hi hello hey, helping is a fine line… but we’re here to help you help (sort of).

We’ve done many an episode about living in the gray area of low vision—especially how tricky it can be for the sighted people in our lives. When we might be someone’s first experience with the disabled community, we get why people instinctively jump in to help… or avoid helping altogether.

In this episode, we unpack that blurry line between helping so much that it feels condescending and not helping at all. We talk about what it feels like to receive help in a way that honors our independence while still extending kindness.

And don’t worry: this is NOT meant to scare anyone off from offering help just because you’re afraid of doing it “wrong.” Truly, we all have a part to play. One of the most helpful things you can do is simply ask what someone needs.

For disabled folks, we also chat about communicating lovingly with the overly helpful people in your life, expressing gratitude for their intentions while also reminding them that you’ve got autonomy too.

We mention a few past episodes in this one. Check them out for more stories and laughs:

For episodes where we get to record in the same room (!!!):

hi hello hey, cuddle up for some cute slumber party vibes!

We’ve had some fun “rare” episodes lately—talking guide dogs, blind perks, and all things life with a twist. So this week, we’re bringing back the flair!

Join us for a round of “Friendship Fight Club,” where we debate our mildly controversial opinions. From whether pineapple belongs on pizza to the correct way to eat cereal (yes, there’s a wrong way, and we’re probably doing it), we’re sharing our most unserious hot takes.

hi hello hey, being blind can have its perks!

If you’ve listened to our show for any amount of time, you know being blind isn’t always easy. But we do our best to make the most of the lives we have (and, honestly, we might even argue we’re living our best lives 😉). Still, there aresome perks that make life a little easier (and more equitable) and we wanted to share them with you!

Now, we’re not here to oversell these benefits (though some are pretty cool). Of course, don’t go faking blindness just to snag some of these perks, but if you qualify, definitely take advantage! From prime seating and early access to financial benefits, shorter lines, free tools and tech (and, yes, guide dogs!), we’re covering all kinds of perks that come with being blind.

Got a perk we missed? Email us at [email protected]! We’d love to hear it and maybe feature it in a future episode!

We mention a few past episodes in this one. Check them out for more stories and laughs:

hi hello hey, welcome back to part TWO of our guide dog training extravaganza!

We couldn’t make you wait a full two weeks for the next chapter of this story, so we’re releasing part two right away! It’s time to spill all the tea on our new favorite dude, Mr. A.

If you missed part 1 (where we revealed Mr. A!), be sure to go back and catch up before diving in. In this final installment of Cass’ time at Guide Dogs for the Blind, we take you inside what two weeks of training are really like. We talk about what it’s like working with a new guide, what teams do during training, and share even more real-time voice memos from Cass with stories about Mr. A.

We also cover meeting Mr. A’s incredible puppy raisers, the emotional graduation day, and shout out the amazing people who make the Guide Dogs experience so special.

Want to see graduation for yourself? You can watch the California Class 1034 graduation on YouTube (embedded below)! Skip to the 41:00 mark to hear Cass wax poetic about her new partner—but grab some tissues first!

We’ll be back next week with our regularly scheduled Rare with Flair episodes and will return to our biweekly release schedule after that.

hi hello hey, we’re back, and we are beyond excited to introduce Cass’ new partner-in-crime!

We hope you haven’t missed us too much during our month-long hiatus, because we’re coming back with a treat: our very first two-part episode extravaganza! Over the next two weeks, we’ll take you along as Cass embarks on her journey to meet and train with her successor guide dog.

If you’ve followed Rare with Flair for a while, you’ll know that Cass got her first guide, Romana—a small, sassy yellow lab from Guide Dogs for the Blind—in 2016. Romana (featured in our Rare with Flair logo artwork!) worked faithfully for eight wonderful years before retiring in 2024. After that, Cass patiently waited for “The Call” that would send her back to California for two weeks of training with her next partner.

At the end of August, that time finally came! Training with a guide dog is a unique and life-changing experience, and we knew it deserved a special spotlight. In part 1 of this series, Case and Cass talk about what the training class is like, answer some frequently asked questions, and share the anticipation leading up to arrival day and the unforgettable moment of “dog day” (!!!), including how dogs are matched with their handlers. Throughout the episode, you’ll also hear voice memos Cass recorded in real time during training, capturing her live thoughts and emotions in the moment.

Want to hear what happens after Cass meets her new partner? Stay tuned for part 2 next week!

Curious to learn more about guide dogs, hear Cass reflect on Romana’s retirement, or get to know Casey’s adorable bichon frise, Rupert? Check out these episodes!

hi hello hey, grab your emotional support item of choice and cuddle up with us!

Life is challenging, period. Inspired by the podcast A Beautiful Mess by sisters Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman, we’re diving into the little things that bring us comfort. We all have go-to comforts in stressful times or when we just need a boost, whether it’s a nostalgic movie, an immersive hobby, a favorite album, or grounding ourselves in faith. We’ve shared plenty of favorites and things that make us happy before, but this time we’re talking about our true lifelines.

And with all this talk of hard times, we’ve got a big (and exciting!) update: Cass will be training with her successor guide dog when this episode comes out!! That means we’ll be taking a short hiatus until she and her brand-new partner in crime are ready to share their training story with the podience. Stay tuned on our socials to know when we’ll be back on the reg.

Until then, learn more about guide dogs and keep us in your rotation as your comfort podcast (we hope!).

Sending you all the comfort vibes until we’re back.

hi hello hey: let’s get fit!!

In over 125 episodes across five years, we’ve somehow never devoted a full episode to fitness… until now! In the past few years, we’ve truly found a love for moving our bodies, and today we’re sharing our fitness journeys from childhood sports to the workouts keeping us active now.

We might not be the sportiest girlies, but we like to think we’re athletic at heart. We’ll talk about what motivates us, how our routines have evolved, and why fitness has taken on new meaning in our lives. So grab your AirPods and walk, jog, lift, or stretch along with us!

Got thoughts, questions, or suggestions? Our inbox is always open at [email protected] and we’d love to hear from you!

hi hello hey, happy FIVE YEARS of Rare with Flair!

As wild as it feels to say, it’s true: we’ve changed in the five years since we started this podcast. To celebrate our fifth podaversary (!!!), we’re reflecting on the ways we’ve grown. Some shifts are small, and others are in how we approach big things like disclosing, advocating, and accepting help.

We truly wouldn’t be here without you, our amazing listeners. Whether you just found us or have been with us since our pandemic origins, thank you for being part of this journey. We’d be yapping into the void without you!

Have thoughts, questions, or feedback? Drop us a line at [email protected]; we just might answer on the pod!

And while you’re at it, check out our past podaversary episodes, including our very first episode from July 2020!

hi, hello, hey, we’re talking all about guide dogs today! 🦮

Over the years, we’ve gotten lots of requests to make an episode all about guide dogs. Whether you’re seriously considering one or just curious about what it takes to get a working dog, this episode is for you!

We’ve talked about canes plenty, and even compared pet dogs and guide dogs before, but we never dedicated a full episode to the topic, mostly because Cass is the one with experience, having worked with a guide dog for about eight years (now retired!), while Case hasn’t.

So in this slightly atypical episode, Cass takes the lead and shares everything from how to know if a guide dog is right for you, to how to choose from the nearly 15 guide dog schools in the U.S.—each with their own unique approach and vibe. She also walks through the application process at Guide Dogs for the Blind and gives a peek into the incredible training that goes into preparing a dog to become a guide.

Got more guide dog (or non-guide dog) questions? Send them our way at [email protected] and we just might answer them in a future episode!

Want more cane or dog talk? Check these episodes out!

hi hello hey, ready to get cozy with us??

Longtime listeners know that personality quizzes hate to see us coming. We’ve always loved them, even as kids! So when Cass recently stumbled upon her old American Girl quiz books, we knew we had to bring them to the pod.

In this episode, we each take a quiz from one of the three vintage books and find out just how well these throwback quizzes really know us. Spoiler: some results are spot on!

And! The day this episode drops (June 24th) is Cass’ 28th birthday! Want to wish her a happy one or send us a question for a future episode? We’d love to hear from you at [email protected].

Check out our other personality quiz related episodes: