1) Episode Summary

 In this episode, Kim Wardlow welcomes Paralympian Lex Gillette for a clear and highly practical conversation on how track and field works for blind and low-vision athletes. They break down the difference between track and field events, explain T11, T12, and T13 classifications, and walk listeners through the real mechanics of accessibility in the sport: blindfold rules, guide runners, tethers, verbal cueing, and the trust it takes to compete at a high level. The conversation also gives a vivid picture of what it feels like to be in the blocks, on the runway, and in motion, while reinforcing a bigger message that movement, competition, and courage are not off-limits because of vision loss. 

2) Contact Info

 Guest / Featured Voice: Lex Gillette — Team USA Paralympic athlete and long jumper. 
 Aftersight feedback / questions: [email protected] | (720) 712-8856 
 Producer: Jonathan Price
 Host: Kim Wardlow 

3) Show Credits

 Show: Navigating Life with Vision Loss
 Host: Kim Wardlow
 Guest: Lex Gillette
 Producer: Jonathan Price
 Organization: Aftersight

Episode Summary

 Kim Wardlow sits down with Christine Holmberg, Executive Director of Foresight Adventure Guides for the Blind, for a conversation about skiing, confidence, freedom, and what becomes possible when blind and low-vision individuals are given the right support on the mountain. Christine shares how Foresight grew from a ski-specific program into a broader adventure organization, while still staying deeply committed to guided skiing and snowboarding at Vail and Beaver Creek.
 

The episode walks through how Foresight’s programs work for both adults and youth, including guided ski days, youth learn-to-ski trips, and the structure of having both a guide and a shadow on the mountain. Christine explains how trust is built, how guides communicate with skiers, and why the experience is often transformational for people who thought vision loss meant the end of activities they once loved.
 

The conversation also highlights the broader impact of adaptive recreation. From kids building confidence through skiing to adults reclaiming pieces of life they thought were gone, this episode is full of practical information and real hope. Christine also shares details about other adaptive ski programs in Colorado, the affordability of Foresight’s services, and the upcoming AfterSight and Foresight fundraising walk at Cherry Creek State Park on May 30. 

Contact Info

Guest / Organization
Christine Holmberg
Executive Director, Foresight Adventure Guides for the Blind
Website: foresightskiguides.org
Alternate Website: foresightadventureguidesfortheblind.org
Phone: 303-506-3859
Email: [email protected] 

Aftersight
Aftersight
Phone: (720) 712-8856
Email: [email protected]

Producer Credits
Produced by Jonathan Price for Aftersight

Show Credits
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest: Christine Holmberg
Producer: Jonathan Price
Organization: Aftersight

• (00:00) - — Welcome to the sports series and guest introduction

1) Episode Summary 

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, Kim Wardlow sits down with Mindy Keene for a grounded and encouraging conversation about health, wellness, and the small choices that build a stronger foundation for life. Rather than focusing only on sports performance, this episode pulls back and looks at the bigger picture: sleep, hydration, movement, nutrition, stress, self-talk, and the mental side of lasting change. 

Mindy shares her personal turning point after learning her lung function had dropped significantly, and how that moment forced her to take her health more seriously. She talks honestly about cutting back on sugar, learning to read labels, shifting her meals toward protein and vegetables, and starting with simple movement like walking. She also opens up about the emotional side of the journey, including stress, crying as release, using music to reset, and learning not to punish herself for being human. 

The conversation also touches on practical barriers that can come with vision loss, from navigating gym spaces to advocating for oneself with doctors. Throughout the episode, the heart of the message stays the same: start small, be realistic, love yourself, and build one healthy choice at a time. It is a warm, practical episode that reminds listeners that progress does not require perfection, only consistency and grace. 

2) Contact Info 

Guest: Mindy Keene
Guest / Organization Contact: Not provided in the transcript. 

Aftersight
Website: Aftersight
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (720) 712-8856 

Producer Credits:
Host: Kim Wardlow
Producer: Jonathan Price 

3) Show Credits 

Show: Navigating Life with Vision Loss
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest: Mindy Keene
Producer: Jonathan Price
Network: Aftersight 

• (00:00) - Chapter 1

1) Episode Summary 

This episode continues the Navigating Life with Vision Loss sports series with a bold conversation on extreme sports. Host Kim Wardlow welcomes Shawn Cheshire, who shares her journey from vision loss after a traumatic brain injury to becoming a record-setting athlete in biathlon, cycling, hiking, and mountaineering. Together, they unpack misconceptions about blindness and risk, the role of fear in growth, and why communication, trust, and the right team matter more than special equipment in many outdoor pursuits. The conversation also explores rock climbing, water adventures, and mountaineering, while giving listeners practical encouragement to try something new, define failure differently, and take one meaningful step forward. The episode closes with Shawn’s reminder that the greatest barrier is often not disability, but access to people willing to do the adventure with you. 

2) Contact Info 

Guest / Organization
Shawn Cheshire
Choosing to See — choosingtosee.org
Instagram — @sean_cheshire
Shawn notes that reaching out through Choosing to See is a direct way to connect with her. 

Aftersight
Aftersight
[email protected]
(720) 712-8856 

Producer Credits
Produced by Jonathan Price 

3) Show Credits 

Show: Navigating Life with Vision Loss
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest: Shawn Cheshire
Producer: Jonathan Price 

• (00:00) - Tempo: 120.0

1) Episode Summary 

Kim Wardlow welcomes Evan Schwabrock, founder of Cane and Able Fitness, for a practical and encouraging conversation about getting started with strength training and gym fitness as a blind or low-vision person. Evan shares his story of losing most of his vision due to Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, how his background in kinesiology and disability studies shaped his work, and why he created Cane and Able Fitness to challenge the idea that disability means inability. 

This episode focuses on real-world fitness basics rather than extreme performance. Evan breaks down the confidence, independence, and resilience that strength training can build, both inside and outside the gym. He offers encouragement for listeners who may have fallen off their goals, emphasizing that progress does not require perfection, only consistency, good systems, and sustainable habits. 

Kim and Evan also walk through common misconceptions about blind and low-vision people in gyms, the difference between working out at home versus in a gym environment, how often someone really needs to work out to make progress, and what to do on that first day walking into a gym. Evan gives clear, accessible advice on gym safety, interacting with staff, using spotters, building around foundational strength movements, and understanding when it is time to increase weight or difficulty. 

The conversation closes with myth-busting around fitness excuses, practical thoughts on working out with injuries or joint issues, and encouragement for listeners to stop waiting for the “perfect” time and simply begin in a way that works for them. It is a grounded, motivating episode for anyone wanting to get stronger, feel more capable, and approach fitness with vision loss in a way that is accessible and sustainable. 

2) Contact Info 

Guest / Organization
Evan Schwabrock
Founder, Cane and Able Fitness
Website: caneandablefitness.com
Socials: Cane and Able Fitness on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube 

Aftersight
Website: Aftersight.org
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (720) 712-8856 

Producer
Jonathan Price
Podcast and Program Producer, Aftersight 

3) Show Credits 

Show: Navigating Life with Vision Loss
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest: Evan Schwabrock
Producer: Jonathan Price
Organization: Aftersight 

4) Chapter Markers 

00:03 — Kim introduces the sports series and today’s focus on gym basics and strength training
01:35 — Evan shares his vision loss journey and the founding of Cane and Able Fitness
04:04 — Why strength training builds confidence, capability, and momentum beyond the gym
05:44 — Restarting fitness goals after falling off track and setting sustainable habits
07:23 — Misconceptions about blind and low-vision people working out in gym spaces
09:06 — How beginners can start small and ease into fitness without overwhelm
12:16 — Gym workouts versus home workouts: community, mobility, and accountability
15:10 — How often to work out when starting and why consistency matters more than volume
18:18 — First-day gym advice: asking staff for help, tours, and building support systems
19:27 — Safety in the gym, owning your space, and reducing avoidable hazards
22:16 — Foundational strength movements and how they connect to everyday function
25:07 — Machines versus free weights and why both have value in a training plan
26:27 — Coaching form with vision loss through tactile, sensory, and audible feedback
27:42 — Knowing when to increase weight, difficulty, or training challenge
29:48 — Fitness myths, excuses, and the fear of being judged or getting “too bulky”
35:20 — Working out with injuries, arthritis, balance issues, or joint limitations
39:35 — Stretching, mobility, and building movement quality into the workout itself
41:31 — Evan’s final encouragement on finding what works and building positive momentum
43:02 — Where listeners can find Cane and Able Fitness online
43:47 — Kim closes the episode and encourages listeners to keep moving forward

• (00:00) - Tempo: 120.0

Episode Summary 

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, Kim Wardlow continues the sports series by diving into aquatic sports with Jillian Stringfellow and Will Rastetter from Envision Blind Sports. Together, they unpack how blind and low-vision athletes can participate in swimming, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and rowing with the right instruction, communication, and support. 

The conversation highlights a simple but powerful truth: aquatic sports are far more accessible than many people assume. Jillian and Will explain that most adaptations are not dramatic. They often come down to clearer verbal instruction, guided orientation, hands-on learning, and building trust step by step. 

The episode spends meaningful time on swimming, covering early teaching methods like breath control, bubble work, kicking, body positioning, lane orientation, and the use of tappers at the wall. Will also explains how swimmers grow from basic safety and comfort in the water to stronger stroke technique, confidence, and even school team participation. 

From there, the discussion moves into kayaking, canoeing, and rowing, where communication, rhythm, and individualized cues become key. Jillian shares how Envision uses partnerships and trained volunteers to help athletes safely try new experiences, while also helping families see what is truly possible. 

At its heart, this episode is about confidence. The encouragement is clear: try the sport, trust the process, and let the experience build belief. For many athletes, that first success in the water becomes a doorway into greater independence, community, and courage in the rest of life. 

Contact Info 

Guests / Organization

 Jillian Stringfellow, Program Director, Envision Blind Sports
 Will Rastetter, Swim Coach, Envision Blind Sports
 Website: EnvisionBlindSports.org
 General contact: [email protected] | (724) 967-4712
 Jillian direct contact: [email protected] 

Aftersight

 Website: Aftersight.org
 Podcast: Navigating Life with Vision Loss
General contact: [email protected] | (303) 786-7777
Address: 1805 Hwy 42, Ste 220, Louisville, CO 80027 

Producer Credits

 Jonathan Price, Podcast Producer, Aftersight
 [email protected] | (720) 712-8856 

Show Credits 

Host: Kim Wardlow
Guests: Jillian Stringfellow and Will Rastetter
Organization Featured: Envision Blind Sports
Producer: Jonathan Price
Network: Aftersight 

Chapter Markers 

00:00 — Kim opens the aquatic sports episode
01:13 — What Envision Blind Sports does
04:54 — Common misconceptions about blind athletes in water sports
07:05 — “Fearless, Do More” in aquatic settings
10:00 — The biggest fears athletes and families face
12:03 — Encouraging athletes who do not see themselves as athletic
15:13 — How Will teaches brand-new swimmers
20:15 — Lane orientation, walls, turns, and tappers
23:51 — First steps for getting started in swimming
26:31 — Confidence that carries beyond the pool
29:37 — Kayaking and canoeing: instruction, cues, and safety
34:59 — Family involvement, trust, and growing independence
37:56 — Rowing basics and why it works so well
43:20 — Safety habits and confidence tips across sports
46:06 — The moments that remind them why this work matters
48:24 — How to connect with Envision Blind Sports
49:10 — Kim closes and previews next week’s martial arts episode

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

• (00:00) - Tempo: 120.0

1) Episode Summary
 

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow continues the sports series with a conversation about team sports, adaptive recreation, and the deeper personal growth that comes through play. Guest Ashley Thomas, founder of Bridge to Sports, shares her own story of living with spina bifida, becoming a wheelchair user, discovering sport later in life, and eventually competing at a world-class level in kayaking. 

Ashley brings a powerful perspective to the conversation: sport is not just about competition. It is a tool for confidence, independence, resilience, teamwork, communication, and self-discovery. She shares an unforgettable story about doing her first 5K with her daughter, where poor planning turned into a lesson in humility, teamwork, and learning how to communicate needs clearly. 

The episode also explores the value of asking for help, how to approach a team environment when you feel like the “new person,” and why it is important to keep trying even when fear, discouragement, or past rejection make it tempting to stay small. Ashley also discusses adaptive team sports and activities that can work well for blind and low-vision athletes, including beep baseball, bocce, cycling, kayaking, and other adaptive options. 

The heart of the episode is simple and strong: it is never too late to play, never too late to try, and never too late to discover what you are capable of. 

2) Contact Info 

Guest / Organization
Ashley Thomas
Founder, Bridge to Sports 

Aftersight
Aftersight
Email: [email protected] 

Producer
Jonathan Price
Podcast and Program Producer, Aftersight 

3) Show Credits 

Show: Navigating Life with Vision Loss
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest: Ashley Thomas
Producer: Jonathan Price
Organization: Aftersight 

4) Chapter Markers 

00:02 — Kim introduces the sports series and guest Ashley Thomas
01:21 — Ashley shares her background, disability, and love for sport
02:58 — Why sport can be adapted for everyone
05:45 — The deeper benefits of team sports beyond the game itself
07:21 — Ashley’s first race story and lessons in humility and teamwork
21:41 — Finding the sport you love versus the one you are best at
22:29 — How to ask for help and communicate your needs clearly
31:11 — Body positioning, posture, and practical sport readiness
34:45 — Beep baseball and what it teaches about blind athletic skill
37:23 — Blind soccer, hockey, and starting what does not yet exist
39:16 — Bocce as an adaptive team sport option
42:08 — Kayaking and other adaptive opportunities for blind athletes
43:13 — Ashley’s closing encouragement: just do it

• (00:00) - Tempo: 120.0

1) Episode Summary 

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow continues the 16-week sports series with a deep dive into goalball—a fast-paced Paralympic sport designed specifically for blind and low-vision athletes. 

Kim is joined by Lisa Tarkowski, a six-time Paralympic medalist and multi-sport Paralympian (goalball and track & field), and EJ Whitney, a coach and strength/conditioning professional who has worked closely with U.S. goalball athletes. 

Together, they break down: 

• How goalball started after World War II and evolved into a Paralympic sport
• How the game is played (court layout, positions, rules, shot clock, eyeshades, ball with bells)
• Offensive and defensive strategies, including spin throws and sound-based deception
• What it takes to train and compete at the elite/Paralympic level
• Injury prevention, recovery, and strength training for high-level goalball athletes
• How beginners can get started recreationally through local clubs and demos
• Why goalball is such a powerful sport for confidence, teamwork, communication, and skill development

The conversation also highlights how adaptive sports environments can become more inclusive through tactile cues, clear coaching communication, and accessible training spaces.
 
 
2) Contact Info
 
Guest / Organization Info

• Lisa Tarkowski — Paralympic goalball athlete (Team USA / Paralympic goalball)
• EJ Whitney — Goalball coach / strength & conditioning support (Turnstone; Team USA goalball training context)
• Resource mentioned: USABA (U.S. Association of Blind Athletes) for goalball information, videos, and recreational pathways (referenced in episode/show notes)

Aftersight

• Show: Navigating Life with Vision Loss (Aftersight)
• Network: Aftersight Podcasts / Aftersight Originals

Producer Credits

• Host: Kim Wardlow
• Producer: Jonathan Price

 
3) Show Credits

• Podcast: Navigating Life with Vision Loss
• Episode Topic: Goalball, Paralympic competition, and accessible sports pathways
• Host: Kim Wardlow
• Guests: Lisa Tarkowski and EJ Whitney
• Producer: Jonathan Price
• Network: Aftersight

 
4) Chapter Markers

• 00:03 — Kim introduces the sports series and today’s focus on goalball
• 02:13 — Lisa Tarkowski shares her background and how she got into goalball
• 04:39 — Goalball basics: court layout, gameplay, and defensive objective
• 07:08 — Throwing styles, velocity, movement, and offensive techniques
• 09:33 — Listening, bells in the ball, and sound-based strategy
• 11:59 — Positions explained: wings vs. center and physical demands
• 14:23 — How defensive play has evolved (from standing to low-to-ground play)
• 15:03 — What it feels like to compete at the Paralympics
• 17:20 — Common misconceptions about goalball and Paralympic awareness
• 18:41 — Offensive rules, shot clock, and penalty strategy
• 21:01 — Beginner throws and first steps for learning the game
• 23:25 — Lisa’s advice for new players and younger athletes starting out
• 25:48 — Elite training, strength & conditioning, and injury prevention
• 28:10 — Team dynamics, athlete traits, and what coaches look for
• 30:21 — How to get started recreationally and finding local clubs
• 32:47 — Goalball demos, community education, and team-building applications
• 35:13 — Coaching athletes with vision loss and building accessible training spaces
• 37:37 — Audience etiquette, game atmosphere, and final encouragement to try goalball

Episode Summary 

Navigating Life with Vision Loss launches a new sports series—covering everything from beginner-friendly fitness routines to extreme sports—and kicks things off with beep baseball (often called “beepball”), an adaptive version of baseball designed for blind and low-vision athletes. 

Guest Ethan Johnston shares his background (growing up as the only blind kid in a small Missouri town, originally from Ethiopia) and explains how sports and music became “therapy” for him. He walks listeners through how beep baseball works—key rule differences from traditional baseball, defensive positioning, the role of a sighted pitcher and spotters, why everyone wears blindfolds for fairness, and how outs/runs are determined. 

The conversation also explores confidence-building for new players, practice drills, the physical intensity of the sport, travel and camaraderie, the season schedule (including tournaments and the “World Series” style championship), equipment costs, and concrete first steps for getting involved—either as a player or as a sighted volunteer (pitcher/spotter). 

Contact Info 

Getting involved (as shared in the episode): 

• Team listings + schedule: NBBA.org (as referenced in the conversation)
• To watch games: search YouTube/Facebook Live for “beep baseball” + your nearest team name (examples mentioned: “Gateway Archers”)

Aftersight (show network):

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (720) 712-8856

Producer credit:

• Produced by Jonathan Price (Aftersight)

Show Credits

• Podcast: Navigating Life with Vision Loss (Aftersight Original)
• Host: Kim Wardlow
• Guest: Ethan Johnston
• Producer: Jonathan Price

Chapter Markers

• 00:00 — Welcome + sports series kickoff
• 02:23 — Ethan’s background + how he found beep baseball in Colorado
• 04:48 — How the game works: two bases, zones, defense setup
• 07:15 — Pitcher/batter on same team + strikes/innings + mercy-rule talk
• 09:40 — Safety + beeping ball + why you don’t “throw to first”
• 12:02 — Blindfolds + spotters + communication and lane integrity
• 14:14 — How an out is made + close calls + volunteer officiating
• 16:35 — Home run rules + highlight plays + rare catches/double plays
• 19:00 — Building confidence for new players + running to the correct base
• 21:20 — Practice drills + timing + why hitting in the air matters
• 23:20 — Season timeline + training/conditioning routines
• 25:45 — Travel, fundraising, and team camaraderie
• 27:47 — Youth participation + age realities + lack of “minor league”
• 30:12 — Equipment costs + durability (balls/bases)
• 32:38 — How to join: NBBA.org + joining a nearby team even out-of-state
• 34:48 — Longevity in the sport + older players still producing
• 36:22 — Favorite positions + hardest skill (don’t listen to the ball)
• 38:44 — Veteran mindset + unforgettable moments
• 40:52 — How to attend/watch games + final thoughts
• 43:09 — Aftersight show plug + closing remarks

• (00:00) - Tempo: 120.0