The Blind Chick

By AftersightSociety & Culture Education

The Blind Chick episodes

April 24, 2025 Locked, Loaded, and Listening: Hunting, Healing, and Hearing Loss with Darren Zenger
In this episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn and Moses sit down with therapist and avid hunter Darren Zenger for a powerful, raw, and deeply insightful conversation. Darren shares his journey of vision and hearing loss, recovery through the 12-step program, and how he rediscovered his love for the outdoors and hunting using adaptive tech and strong community support.
The conversation dives into trauma, addiction, neuroplasticity, and the importance of family systems in healing. Darren's story reveals how blindness and deafness don’t limit one's identity—they demand innovation, patience, and community. Plus, you won’t want to miss the story of how Darren bagged a deer at over 500 yards using adaptive hunting gear.
⏱️ Chapter Markers
00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick
00:28 – Meet Darren Zenger: Therapist, hunter, and mental health advocate
01:45 – The link between trauma and addiction
02:50 – Vision loss and its role in addiction risk
04:10 – Medications and treatments for curbing addiction
05:15 – The importance of mental health in recovery
06:00 – Brain spotting, neuroplasticity, and healing the unseen
09:45 – The blind brain: how sensory loss rewires neural activity
11:20 – Family systems and community in recovery
12:15 – The opposite of addiction is connection
13:30 – Everyday trauma in the blind community
14:10 – Can blind people hunt? (Short answer: YES!)
16:00 – Adaptive hunting: crossbows, scopes, and 5-inch monitors
18:50 – Taking the shot: a 525-yard success
21:15 – Hunting as healing and connection
23:40 – Final thoughts: resilience, community, and not letting blindness define you
25:35 – Closing remarks: Be kind to yourself—and someone else
📞 Contact Info
Website: aftersight.org
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (720) 712-8856
28 min
April 24, 2025 Locked, Loaded, and Listening: Hunting, Healing, and Hearing Loss with Darren Zenger
In this episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn and Moses sit down with therapist and avid hunter Darren Zenger for a powerful, raw, and deeply insightful conversation. Darren shares his journey of vision and hearing loss, recovery through the 12-step program, and how he rediscovered his love for the outdoors and hunting using adaptive tech and strong community support.
The conversation dives into trauma, addiction, neuroplasticity, and the importance of family systems in healing. Darren's story reveals how blindness and deafness don’t limit one's identity—they demand innovation, patience, and community. Plus, you won’t want to miss the story of how Darren bagged a deer at over 500 yards using adaptive hunting gear.
⏱️ Chapter Markers
00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick
00:28 – Meet Darren Zenger: Therapist, hunter, and mental health advocate
01:45 – The link between trauma and addiction
02:50 – Vision loss and its role in addiction risk
04:10 – Medications and treatments for curbing addiction
05:15 – The importance of mental health in recovery
06:00 – Brain spotting, neuroplasticity, and healing the unseen
09:45 – The blind brain: how sensory loss rewires neural activity
11:20 – Family systems and community in recovery
12:15 – The opposite of addiction is connection
13:30 – Everyday trauma in the blind community
14:10 – Can blind people hunt? (Short answer: YES!)
16:00 – Adaptive hunting: crossbows, scopes, and 5-inch monitors
18:50 – Taking the shot: a 525-yard success
21:15 – Hunting as healing and connection
23:40 – Final thoughts: resilience, community, and not letting blindness define you
25:35 – Closing remarks: Be kind to yourself—and someone else
📞 Contact Info
Website: aftersight.org
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (720) 712-8856
28 min
April 17, 2025 Healing Beyond Words: Trauma, Sobriety, and Brain-spotting with Darran Zenger
In this powerful and heartfelt episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn and Moses Street sit down with Darran Zenger, a licensed clinical social worker at Cirque Lodge in Utah. Darran shares his personal journey with Usher Syndrome, his experience with cochlear implants, and how his own life challenges led him to become a trauma-informed addiction counselor. He introduces us to brainspotting, a groundbreaking therapeutic approach rooted in EMDR, and explains how it helps clients unlock stored trauma in the nervous system. This episode is a deep dive into resilience, recovery, and redefining life after trauma.
⏱️ Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick
00:28 – Meet the hosts + Moses’s “muse” confession
01:30 – Intro to guest Darran Zenger
02:36 – Darran’s background and where he’s from
05:01 – Living with Usher Syndrome and hearing loss
07:20 – Public school with accessibility support
09:19 – Becoming a stay-at-home dad & finding his calling
10:37 – Fear, faith & the journey to cochlear implant
12:44 – Music, retraining the brain & the power of sound
15:10 – Adjusting to dual cochlear implants
17:38 – Discovering social work & substance use counseling
20:00 – Working at the Moran Eye Center
22:02 – Brainspotting: What it is and how it works
24:27 – Real stories of healing through brainspotting
27:00 – The miracle moments of trauma therapy
29:00 – Closing thoughts & feedback invitation
📞 Contact Info:
Email us: [email protected]
Call us: (720) 712-8856
Website: aftersight.org
27 min
April 17, 2025 Healing Beyond Words: Trauma, Sobriety, and Brain-spotting with Darran Zenger
In this powerful and heartfelt episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn and Moses Street sit down with Darran Zenger, a licensed clinical social worker at Cirque Lodge in Utah. Darran shares his personal journey with Usher Syndrome, his experience with cochlear implants, and how his own life challenges led him to become a trauma-informed addiction counselor. He introduces us to brainspotting, a groundbreaking therapeutic approach rooted in EMDR, and explains how it helps clients unlock stored trauma in the nervous system. This episode is a deep dive into resilience, recovery, and redefining life after trauma.
⏱️ Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick
00:28 – Meet the hosts + Moses’s “muse” confession
01:30 – Intro to guest Darran Zenger
02:36 – Darran’s background and where he’s from
05:01 – Living with Usher Syndrome and hearing loss
07:20 – Public school with accessibility support
09:19 – Becoming a stay-at-home dad & finding his calling
10:37 – Fear, faith & the journey to cochlear implant
12:44 – Music, retraining the brain & the power of sound
15:10 – Adjusting to dual cochlear implants
17:38 – Discovering social work & substance use counseling
20:00 – Working at the Moran Eye Center
22:02 – Brainspotting: What it is and how it works
24:27 – Real stories of healing through brainspotting
27:00 – The miracle moments of trauma therapy
29:00 – Closing thoughts & feedback invitation
📞 Contact Info:
Email us: [email protected]
Call us: (720) 712-8856
Website: aftersight.org
27 min
April 10, 2025 If You Can Do It, Do It – Part Two with Steven Vine
In Part Two of this powerful and heartfelt interview, The Blind Chick welcomes back Canadian disability advocate and podcaster Steven Vine, host of Disability Diaries. This episode dives deeper into Steven’s journey navigating life with blindness, a prosthetic leg, chronic pain, and a passion for podcasting.
Steven shares how self-teaching and mentorship helped him master his smartphone, the critical role that asking for help has played in his life, and why he transitioned from being an individual in need of advocacy to becoming an advocate himself. He offers a glimpse into the Canadian disability landscape and challenges both able-bodied individuals and the disability community to stop underestimating what is possible.
Steven’s words—“If you can do it, do it”—echo throughout this episode as a rallying cry to push past limitations and find purpose through adversity. His humor, sincerity, and resilience shine as he talks podcasting, politics, and the power of community.
Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Opening and Welcome Back to Steven Vine
00:42 – Learning Technology as a Blind Person
02:20 – The Power of Asking for Help
03:15 – Living with Chronic Pain and Wheelchair Use
04:37 – Positivity, Potential, and the Birth of His Podcast
06:58 – Becoming a Podcaster: Purpose and Passion
09:18 – Building a Show that Advocates and Educates
11:31 – Featuring Diverse Guests from Politicians to Artists
13:53 – The Shift from Needing an Advocate to Being One
16:16 – Empowering the Disability Community from Within
18:30 – Where to Find Steven Vine and His Podcast
20:42 – Clarifying Canadian-American Relations and Booing at Hockey Games
22:46 – Focusing on What You Can Control
24:00 – Final Thoughts from Steven Vine
25:00 – Closing Remarks and Listener Call to Action
Where to Find Steven Vine:
Podcast: Disability Diaries with Steven Vine (available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Buzzsprout, and more)
Facebook: Disability Diaries with Steven Vine
Email: [email protected]
27 min
April 10, 2025 If You Can Do It, Do It – Part Two with Steven Vine
In Part Two of this powerful and heartfelt interview, The Blind Chick welcomes back Canadian disability advocate and podcaster Steven Vine, host of Disability Diaries. This episode dives deeper into Steven’s journey navigating life with blindness, a prosthetic leg, chronic pain, and a passion for podcasting.
Steven shares how self-teaching and mentorship helped him master his smartphone, the critical role that asking for help has played in his life, and why he transitioned from being an individual in need of advocacy to becoming an advocate himself. He offers a glimpse into the Canadian disability landscape and challenges both able-bodied individuals and the disability community to stop underestimating what is possible.
Steven’s words—“If you can do it, do it”—echo throughout this episode as a rallying cry to push past limitations and find purpose through adversity. His humor, sincerity, and resilience shine as he talks podcasting, politics, and the power of community.
Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Opening and Welcome Back to Steven Vine
00:42 – Learning Technology as a Blind Person
02:20 – The Power of Asking for Help
03:15 – Living with Chronic Pain and Wheelchair Use
04:37 – Positivity, Potential, and the Birth of His Podcast
06:58 – Becoming a Podcaster: Purpose and Passion
09:18 – Building a Show that Advocates and Educates
11:31 – Featuring Diverse Guests from Politicians to Artists
13:53 – The Shift from Needing an Advocate to Being One
16:16 – Empowering the Disability Community from Within
18:30 – Where to Find Steven Vine and His Podcast
20:42 – Clarifying Canadian-American Relations and Booing at Hockey Games
22:46 – Focusing on What You Can Control
24:00 – Final Thoughts from Steven Vine
25:00 – Closing Remarks and Listener Call to Action
Where to Find Steven Vine:
Podcast: Disability Diaries with Steven Vine (available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Buzzsprout, and more)
Facebook: Disability Diaries with Steven Vine
Email: [email protected]
27 min
April 03, 2025 The Price of Not Slowing Down (Part 1)
In this powerful episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses sit down with Canadian podcaster Stephen Vine, host of Disability Diaries. Known for his sharp wit and musical heart, Stephen shares the intimate, harrowing story of how ignoring warning signs, overworking, and a high-stress lifestyle led to a catastrophic health crisis that changed his life forever. After surviving a near-fatal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), Stephen lost his sight, his leg, and his colon—but not his sense of humor or determination.
The conversation explores his fast-paced past as a restaurant owner serving celebrities like Mel Gibson, Linda Blair, and John Candy. Stephen walks us through the day his life changed and the emotional toll that followed. With vulnerability and hope, he shares how he moved from bitterness to purpose—learning to adapt, reconnect with joy, and begin his podcast, which has become a platform for elevating voices within the disability community.
Listeners will gain insights into resilience, the power of listening, and how choosing to stop digging can help you climb out of life’s deepest holes.
Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick
01:05 – Penn and Moses banter, Superman joke
02:18 – Guest intro: Stephen Vine of Disability Diaries
03:10 – Quote of the Day: “Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens” – Jimi Hendrix
04:38 – Learning to listen after blindness
06:57 – Celebrity clientele from Stephen’s former career
08:45 – Workaholism, stress, and health warnings
11:40 – The day of the aneurysm: ignored signs and collapse
14:01 – Waking from the coma: adjusting to total blindness
16:24 – Drinking culture, grief, and changing relationships with alcohol
18:38 – Healing, rehab, and redefining identity
21:02 – Finding support through Kristin and taking back his life
23:18 – Empowerment, advocacy, and thriving through disability
25:00 – Closing remarks and teaser for Part 2
26 min
April 03, 2025 The Price of Not Slowing Down (Part 1)
In this powerful episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses sit down with Canadian podcaster Stephen Vine, host of Disability Diaries. Known for his sharp wit and musical heart, Stephen shares the intimate, harrowing story of how ignoring warning signs, overworking, and a high-stress lifestyle led to a catastrophic health crisis that changed his life forever. After surviving a near-fatal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), Stephen lost his sight, his leg, and his colon—but not his sense of humor or determination.
The conversation explores his fast-paced past as a restaurant owner serving celebrities like Mel Gibson, Linda Blair, and John Candy. Stephen walks us through the day his life changed and the emotional toll that followed. With vulnerability and hope, he shares how he moved from bitterness to purpose—learning to adapt, reconnect with joy, and begin his podcast, which has become a platform for elevating voices within the disability community.
Listeners will gain insights into resilience, the power of listening, and how choosing to stop digging can help you climb out of life’s deepest holes.
Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick
01:05 – Penn and Moses banter, Superman joke
02:18 – Guest intro: Stephen Vine of Disability Diaries
03:10 – Quote of the Day: “Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens” – Jimi Hendrix
04:38 – Learning to listen after blindness
06:57 – Celebrity clientele from Stephen’s former career
08:45 – Workaholism, stress, and health warnings
11:40 – The day of the aneurysm: ignored signs and collapse
14:01 – Waking from the coma: adjusting to total blindness
16:24 – Drinking culture, grief, and changing relationships with alcohol
18:38 – Healing, rehab, and redefining identity
21:02 – Finding support through Kristin and taking back his life
23:18 – Empowerment, advocacy, and thriving through disability
25:00 – Closing remarks and teaser for Part 2
26 min
March 27, 2025 Can’t See It, Still Nailed It: The Brushstrokes of John Bramblitt
This heartwarming and visually vibrant episode of The Blind Chick opens with a special birthday celebration for co-host Penn Street. Listeners from around the world, including touching messages from Oksana in Russia and friends from GFI Grand Junction, share their love and gratitude for Penn’s impact.
The episode then transitions into an unforgettable conversation with world-renowned blind painter John Bramblitt. John shares his journey as a blind artist, his unique process for understanding color and texture, and how tactile and auditory technologies help him “see” and recreate realistic portraits—including celebrities like Jeff Bridges. From texturized paint techniques to sound-based image translation, John paints a compelling picture of accessibility in art.
He and the hosts explore imagination, how we all build “visual” worlds differently, and the importance of feeling oversight in artwork. John also speaks on his work with international museums, his Yellow Dog Art Bar in Texas, and the emotional honesty that fuels his art.
The show closes with a reflection on the courage to fail, and how each mistake is a brushstroke on the journey toward success.
⏱️ Chapter Markers:
00:00 – 🎉 Penn’s Birthday Celebration
01:30 – Listener Birthday Messages
02:19 – Tribute to Penn’s Advocacy
03:00 – The Power of Textured Paint for the Blind
04:43 – John’s Ever-Changing Studio Techniques
07:06 – Painting Realistic Portraits Without Sight
09:31 – Tech That Helps Blind Artists “See”
11:54 – NVDA, Cat Eyes, and Future Apps
14:12 – 3D Printing & Tactile Art Innovations
16:35 – Dream World vs. Real World in Art
18:59 – The Importance of Emotional Honesty in Art
21:11 – How to Contact John Bramblitt & Visit His Gallery
23:35 – John's Book & Accessibility Options
24:50 – Final Thoughts on Failure & Art
25:54 – Show Close & Calls to Action
28 min
March 27, 2025 Can’t See It, Still Nailed It: The Brushstrokes of John Bramblitt
This heartwarming and visually vibrant episode of The Blind Chick opens with a special birthday celebration for co-host Penn Street. Listeners from around the world, including touching messages from Oksana in Russia and friends from GFI Grand Junction, share their love and gratitude for Penn’s impact.
The episode then transitions into an unforgettable conversation with world-renowned blind painter John Bramblitt. John shares his journey as a blind artist, his unique process for understanding color and texture, and how tactile and auditory technologies help him “see” and recreate realistic portraits—including celebrities like Jeff Bridges. From texturized paint techniques to sound-based image translation, John paints a compelling picture of accessibility in art.
He and the hosts explore imagination, how we all build “visual” worlds differently, and the importance of feeling oversight in artwork. John also speaks on his work with international museums, his Yellow Dog Art Bar in Texas, and the emotional honesty that fuels his art.
The show closes with a reflection on the courage to fail, and how each mistake is a brushstroke on the journey toward success.
⏱️ Chapter Markers:
00:00 – 🎉 Penn’s Birthday Celebration
01:30 – Listener Birthday Messages
02:19 – Tribute to Penn’s Advocacy
03:00 – The Power of Textured Paint for the Blind
04:43 – John’s Ever-Changing Studio Techniques
07:06 – Painting Realistic Portraits Without Sight
09:31 – Tech That Helps Blind Artists “See”
11:54 – NVDA, Cat Eyes, and Future Apps
14:12 – 3D Printing & Tactile Art Innovations
16:35 – Dream World vs. Real World in Art
18:59 – The Importance of Emotional Honesty in Art
21:11 – How to Contact John Bramblitt & Visit His Gallery
23:35 – John's Book & Accessibility Options
24:50 – Final Thoughts on Failure & Art
25:54 – Show Close & Calls to Action
28 min

About The Blind Chick

From the publisher's feed

The Blind Chick is an Aftersight Original hosted by Penn and Moses Street. It’s a raw, real, and often funny conversation space where blindness isn’t a limitation—it’s part of the story. Each episode…