In part two of this powerful conversation, Penn and Moses continue their interview with Shawn Cheshire. Shawn opens up about the devastating year that changed her life: a traumatic brain injury, sudden vision loss, and the painful custody battle that separated her from her child. She shares how therapy became a lifeline, the moment of brutal honesty she had with herself in a shower, and the resilience that carried her into adaptive sports and eventually the Paralympics.

The discussion digs into stigma—both from the general public and within disability communities—and the surprising challenges Shawn faced as an elite blind athlete. With raw honesty and unfiltered courage, Shawn reflects on the choices that shaped her journey, the discipline forged through trauma, and the deep healing that comes from therapy and community.

This is a conversation about pain, perseverance, and transformation. Shawn’s story reminds us that identity isn’t something we inherit—it’s something we choose and fight for.

Contact Info

Aftersight: aftersight.org

| [email protected]

| (720) 712-8856

Show Credits

Hosts: Penn & Moses Street

Guest: Shawn Cheshire

Producer: Jonathan Price

An Aftersight Original Podcast

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Intro & Hike Reminder

02:20 — Injury, Vision Loss & Custody Battle

04:44 — Returning to Work & Identity as a Paramedic

07:09 — Therapy, Night Terrors & Trauma

09:24 — The Shower Aha Moment

11:42 — Choices, Consequences & Growth

14:03 — Therapy as Practice, Not Stigma

16:25 — Trauma Defined & No Comparisons

18:46 — Discovering Cycling & Training Resilience

21:14 — Stigma & Bias in the Paralympics

23:34 — Accusations of “Not Really Blind”

25:26 — Embracing Identity & Handling Judgment

27:00 — Wrap-Up & Teaser for Part 3