The Blind Chick

By AftersightSociety & Culture Education

The Blind Chick episodes

July 03, 2025 Blind and Speed Cubing?... Sure why not.
🎙️ Episode Summary
In this lively episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses welcome Colorado’s own Paul Martz — a retired software engineer, Rubik’s Cube speed-solver, sci-fi writer, and relentless advocate for accessible tech. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) at age 13, Paul shares candidly how losing vision shaped his life: from the family role models who taught him blindness doesn’t mean isolation, to the hard truths about ego, identity, and finally embracing the white cane.
Penn, Moses, and Paul unpack the subtle social shifts that come with using a cane or guide dog — how these tools can change perceptions overnight, even among family and close friends. Paul brings his trademark humor, reminding listeners that adaptability is less about eyesight and more about problem-solving — like speed-solving a Rubik’s Cube with your fingertips and your mind.
They also celebrate The Blind Chick’s recent IWIS International Award win for “On Location Production” and invite listeners to get out, get seen, and get moving at Aftersight’s fifth annual Audio Trekkers Hike — happening September 13th in Boulder, Colorado.
Stay tuned for part two, where Paul will share more about the world of speed-cubing, accessible tech, and the surprising places life’s puzzles can take you.
⏱️ Chapter Markers
00:00 | Welcome & IWIS Award Celebration
02:16 | The Audio Trekkers Hike — September 13th
04:35 | Meet Paul Martz — Diagnosed with RP at 13
06:50 | Family Role Models & Early Acceptance
09:11 | College, Depression & Finding Counseling
11:28 | The First White Cane — Fears & Reactions
13:39 | The Cane as a Social Signal
15:56 | Family & Friends: How Perception Changes
18:21 | Humor as Survival Tool
20:29 | From Programming to Writing Sci-Fi & Braille Books
22:34 | Adapting in the Early PC Era
24:40 | Transition to Screen Readers & Braille
26:55 | Final Reflections — The Puzzle Keeps Turning
29:00 | Closing & Hike Reminder
28 min
July 03, 2025 Blind and Speed Cubing?... Sure why not.
🎙️ Episode Summary
In this lively episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses welcome Colorado’s own Paul Martz — a retired software engineer, Rubik’s Cube speed-solver, sci-fi writer, and relentless advocate for accessible tech. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) at age 13, Paul shares candidly how losing vision shaped his life: from the family role models who taught him blindness doesn’t mean isolation, to the hard truths about ego, identity, and finally embracing the white cane.
Penn, Moses, and Paul unpack the subtle social shifts that come with using a cane or guide dog — how these tools can change perceptions overnight, even among family and close friends. Paul brings his trademark humor, reminding listeners that adaptability is less about eyesight and more about problem-solving — like speed-solving a Rubik’s Cube with your fingertips and your mind.
They also celebrate The Blind Chick’s recent IWIS International Award win for “On Location Production” and invite listeners to get out, get seen, and get moving at Aftersight’s fifth annual Audio Trekkers Hike — happening September 13th in Boulder, Colorado.
Stay tuned for part two, where Paul will share more about the world of speed-cubing, accessible tech, and the surprising places life’s puzzles can take you.
⏱️ Chapter Markers
00:00 | Welcome & IWIS Award Celebration
02:16 | The Audio Trekkers Hike — September 13th
04:35 | Meet Paul Martz — Diagnosed with RP at 13
06:50 | Family Role Models & Early Acceptance
09:11 | College, Depression & Finding Counseling
11:28 | The First White Cane — Fears & Reactions
13:39 | The Cane as a Social Signal
15:56 | Family & Friends: How Perception Changes
18:21 | Humor as Survival Tool
20:29 | From Programming to Writing Sci-Fi & Braille Books
22:34 | Adapting in the Early PC Era
24:40 | Transition to Screen Readers & Braille
26:55 | Final Reflections — The Puzzle Keeps Turning
29:00 | Closing & Hike Reminder
28 min
June 26, 2025 Be Ready App and John Romano Part 2
In this powerful episode of The Blind Chick, John Romano from Disaster Central joins Penn and Moses to explore emergency preparedness through a lens of accessibility, technology, and community resilience. John shares the heart behind the Be Ready app and how it helps people with disabilities plan ahead for disasters — not only with gear and gadgets but with mindset and connection. The episode features raw stories of past emergencies, including how one blind man refused to leave his guide dog behind during a flood.
Listeners are encouraged to participate in upcoming pilot programs and advocate for inclusive planning in their own cities. The message is clear: preparedness isn’t just about surviving a storm, it’s about building strong community ties before the storm ever hits.
⏱️ Chapter Markers
00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick
00:27 – Jonathan introduces John Romano & previews Code Orange
01:30 – The mindset of preparedness and the role of battery banks
02:30 – Customizing the Be Ready app for your household
04:50 – Real stories: flood evacuations, guide dogs, and being left behind
07:00 – Planning on the community level: Colorado Functional Needs Conferences
09:25 – 70% of first responders are your family and friends
11:40 – How to bring this program to your city
13:55 – Funding models & donor support for Be Ready
15:55 – Future features: AI & GIS integration
18:15 – Predictive tech and where emergency preparedness is heading
20:35 – The real call to action: Get involved!
22:55 – The power of preparation and community kindness
25:15 – Let's not admire the problem — let’s solve it
27:40 – Closing thoughts and thanks
📞 Contact Info & Resources
Disaster Central: https://disastercentral.org
Be Ready App: Included in pilot discussions via Disaster Central
Interested in the pilot program?
Contact Curtis Garrett or Atlantis Community to request local training and preparedness offerings.
🗣️ Key Quotes
“70% of your first responders are your family and friends.”
— John Romano
“Let’s not just admire the problem. Let’s work the problem.”
— John Romano
“This isn’t about doing it for us — it’s with us.”
— Penn Street
📲 Other Shows by Aftersight
Blindsight – Mental health and blindness
Blind Level Tech – Accessible tech reviews and interviews
Navigating Life with Vision Loss – Weekly show coming back this fall with a 16-week safety series
Code Orange – Coming soon! Focused on disability-inclusive emergency preparedness
30 min
June 26, 2025 Be Ready App and John Romano Part 2
In this powerful episode of The Blind Chick, John Romano from Disaster Central joins Penn and Moses to explore emergency preparedness through a lens of accessibility, technology, and community resilience. John shares the heart behind the Be Ready app and how it helps people with disabilities plan ahead for disasters — not only with gear and gadgets but with mindset and connection. The episode features raw stories of past emergencies, including how one blind man refused to leave his guide dog behind during a flood.
Listeners are encouraged to participate in upcoming pilot programs and advocate for inclusive planning in their own cities. The message is clear: preparedness isn’t just about surviving a storm, it’s about building strong community ties before the storm ever hits.
⏱️ Chapter Markers
00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick
00:27 – Jonathan introduces John Romano & previews Code Orange
01:30 – The mindset of preparedness and the role of battery banks
02:30 – Customizing the Be Ready app for your household
04:50 – Real stories: flood evacuations, guide dogs, and being left behind
07:00 – Planning on the community level: Colorado Functional Needs Conferences
09:25 – 70% of first responders are your family and friends
11:40 – How to bring this program to your city
13:55 – Funding models & donor support for Be Ready
15:55 – Future features: AI & GIS integration
18:15 – Predictive tech and where emergency preparedness is heading
20:35 – The real call to action: Get involved!
22:55 – The power of preparation and community kindness
25:15 – Let's not admire the problem — let’s solve it
27:40 – Closing thoughts and thanks
📞 Contact Info & Resources
Disaster Central: https://disastercentral.org
Be Ready App: Included in pilot discussions via Disaster Central
Interested in the pilot program?
Contact Curtis Garrett or Atlantis Community to request local training and preparedness offerings.
🗣️ Key Quotes
“70% of your first responders are your family and friends.”
— John Romano
“Let’s not just admire the problem. Let’s work the problem.”
— John Romano
“This isn’t about doing it for us — it’s with us.”
— Penn Street
📲 Other Shows by Aftersight
Blindsight – Mental health and blindness
Blind Level Tech – Accessible tech reviews and interviews
Navigating Life with Vision Loss – Weekly show coming back this fall with a 16-week safety series
Code Orange – Coming soon! Focused on disability-inclusive emergency preparedness
30 min
June 19, 2025 Disaster Central: Planning with Purpose with John Romano Part 1
In this eye-opening episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn and Moses Street sit down with John Romano—nonprofit leader, former relief worker, and founder of Disaster Central. John shares how his experience as a pilot, motorcyclist, and Hurricane Sandy relief worker shaped his approach to risk mitigation and inspired the creation of the Be Ready app.
The conversation explores how the Be Ready app simplifies emergency planning, especially for individuals with disabilities and access needs. Though accessibility features are still evolving, the app already offers powerful tools like cloud-based document storage, community contact sharing, and preparedness prompts for building continuity in crises.
John breaks down his "Dare to Prepare" program, built in collaboration with global research partners and Independent Living Centers across Colorado. From Thailand to Estes Park floods, the stories shared reinforce the urgent need for personalized disaster readiness. The episode ends with a hopeful call for community input to shape the next generation of inclusive emergency tech.
⏱️ Chapter Markers
00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick
00:28 – Penn and Moses return from Iceland
01:45 – Introducing John Romano
03:20 – Motorcycle, piloting, and risk management
05:10 – Hurricane Sandy and discovering his purpose
07:22 – Founding Disaster Central
08:40 – Including people with disabilities in emergency planning
09:45 – Developing the Be Ready app
11:35 – Climate change and disaster trends
13:00 – The app as an easy button for preparedness
14:15 – Features: Cloud vault, encrypted storage, pets & guide dogs
17:00 – Accessibility and shared household planning
18:25 – Using the app with family and caretakers
20:25 – Uploading documents and offline access
22:50 – Teaching preparedness like fly fishing
24:00 – The “Dare to Prepare” training program
25:30 – Working with SILCs and CILCs in Colorado
27:40 – AI, accessibility, and the future of the app
29:00 – Outro and teaser for next week's deep dive
📱 Follow & Subscribe
Listen to more Aftersight Originals:
Blindsight – Mental health & resilience
Blind Level Tech – Accessible tech and innovation
Navigating Life with Vision Loss – Advocacy, safety & daily life
🌐 Aftersight.org | 🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts
30 min
June 19, 2025 Disaster Central: Planning with Purpose with John Romano Part 1
In this eye-opening episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn and Moses Street sit down with John Romano—nonprofit leader, former relief worker, and founder of Disaster Central. John shares how his experience as a pilot, motorcyclist, and Hurricane Sandy relief worker shaped his approach to risk mitigation and inspired the creation of the Be Ready app.
The conversation explores how the Be Ready app simplifies emergency planning, especially for individuals with disabilities and access needs. Though accessibility features are still evolving, the app already offers powerful tools like cloud-based document storage, community contact sharing, and preparedness prompts for building continuity in crises.
John breaks down his "Dare to Prepare" program, built in collaboration with global research partners and Independent Living Centers across Colorado. From Thailand to Estes Park floods, the stories shared reinforce the urgent need for personalized disaster readiness. The episode ends with a hopeful call for community input to shape the next generation of inclusive emergency tech.
⏱️ Chapter Markers
00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick
00:28 – Penn and Moses return from Iceland
01:45 – Introducing John Romano
03:20 – Motorcycle, piloting, and risk management
05:10 – Hurricane Sandy and discovering his purpose
07:22 – Founding Disaster Central
08:40 – Including people with disabilities in emergency planning
09:45 – Developing the Be Ready app
11:35 – Climate change and disaster trends
13:00 – The app as an easy button for preparedness
14:15 – Features: Cloud vault, encrypted storage, pets & guide dogs
17:00 – Accessibility and shared household planning
18:25 – Using the app with family and caretakers
20:25 – Uploading documents and offline access
22:50 – Teaching preparedness like fly fishing
24:00 – The “Dare to Prepare” training program
25:30 – Working with SILCs and CILCs in Colorado
27:40 – AI, accessibility, and the future of the app
29:00 – Outro and teaser for next week's deep dive
📱 Follow & Subscribe
Listen to more Aftersight Originals:
Blindsight – Mental health & resilience
Blind Level Tech – Accessible tech and innovation
Navigating Life with Vision Loss – Advocacy, safety & daily life
🌐 Aftersight.org | 🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts
30 min
June 12, 2025 I Aint Makin Salt and Pepper Shakers: Zach Tidwell Part 2
In this raw and inspiring continuation of Zach Tidwell’s story, The Blind Chick dives deeper into Zach’s journey of survival, addiction, recovery, and resilience. After surviving a self-inflicted gunshot wound and waking up totally blind, Zach faced cognitive dissonance, identity loss, and multiple layers of trauma—but he also found something unexpected: purpose.
Zach walks us through the blurry, painful months of relearning everything from brushing his teeth to walking again, confronting the reality of permanent blindness, and battling crippling depression—all while defying odds. His path includes learning to snowboard, going back to college, coding an award-winning app, and discovering a new identity through service to the blind and disabled community.
He candidly shares his relapse into alcoholism and how he ultimately found the strength to get sober, develop accessible tech, and start a podcast and book that continue to help others. Zach’s story reminds us that failure isn’t final and that purpose can be forged in even the darkest fires.
⏱️ Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Intro + Welcome Back to Part 2
00:28 – Zach’s Awakening + Immediate Aftermath of Attempt
02:54 – ICU, Life Support, and “He’s Still in There”
05:13 – Learning He’s Totally Blind + Initial Reactions
07:16 – Blind Rehab, Adaptive Sports, and Getting Back Up
09:39 – Depression Despite Independence + Sobriety Struggle
12:03 – The Turning Point: Speaking Up to a Therapist
14:19 – The Trigger: Statistics Class + Alcohol Relapse
16:41 – Dropping Out to Code: Creating Accessible Tech
19:04 – Battling Huntington’s Diagnosis + Deeper Addiction
21:20 – Zanagrams: Building the First Fully Accessible Game
22:44 – Sobriety, Speaking, and a Future Reclaimed
24:51 – Final Words: Speak Up + Adapt to Thrive
27:07 – Where to Find Zach + Outro
29 min
June 12, 2025 I Aint Makin Salt and Pepper Shakers: Zach Tidwell Part 2
In this raw and inspiring continuation of Zach Tidwell’s story, The Blind Chick dives deeper into Zach’s journey of survival, addiction, recovery, and resilience. After surviving a self-inflicted gunshot wound and waking up totally blind, Zach faced cognitive dissonance, identity loss, and multiple layers of trauma—but he also found something unexpected: purpose.
Zach walks us through the blurry, painful months of relearning everything from brushing his teeth to walking again, confronting the reality of permanent blindness, and battling crippling depression—all while defying odds. His path includes learning to snowboard, going back to college, coding an award-winning app, and discovering a new identity through service to the blind and disabled community.
He candidly shares his relapse into alcoholism and how he ultimately found the strength to get sober, develop accessible tech, and start a podcast and book that continue to help others. Zach’s story reminds us that failure isn’t final and that purpose can be forged in even the darkest fires.
⏱️ Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Intro + Welcome Back to Part 2
00:28 – Zach’s Awakening + Immediate Aftermath of Attempt
02:54 – ICU, Life Support, and “He’s Still in There”
05:13 – Learning He’s Totally Blind + Initial Reactions
07:16 – Blind Rehab, Adaptive Sports, and Getting Back Up
09:39 – Depression Despite Independence + Sobriety Struggle
12:03 – The Turning Point: Speaking Up to a Therapist
14:19 – The Trigger: Statistics Class + Alcohol Relapse
16:41 – Dropping Out to Code: Creating Accessible Tech
19:04 – Battling Huntington’s Diagnosis + Deeper Addiction
21:20 – Zanagrams: Building the First Fully Accessible Game
22:44 – Sobriety, Speaking, and a Future Reclaimed
24:51 – Final Words: Speak Up + Adapt to Thrive
27:07 – Where to Find Zach + Outro
29 min
June 05, 2025 A Shot at Life: Zach Tidwell’s Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
In this powerful and emotional episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses welcome Zach Tidwell, a blind Marine Corps veteran, suicide survivor, and resilience advocate whose story will leave you speechless—and ultimately inspired.
Zach opens up about his time in the military, the deep emotional wounds following betrayal and traumatic brain injury, and the dark spiral into alcoholism and isolation that followed. At his lowest point, Zach attempted to take his own life and survived a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His recovery, however, would become a testimony not only to medical miracles but to the power of community, perseverance, and purpose.
This is part one of a two-part episode. While today's conversation dives into the pain and trauma Zach endured, next week’s episode will celebrate the transformation—highlighting how Zach rebuilt his life, embraced his blindness, launched a podcast (Going In Blind), and became a voice of hope for others battling mental health challenges.
⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of depression, suicide, and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.
⏱️ Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Intro: Blindness is an adventure
00:27 – Summer vibes, camping, and introducing Zach Tidwell
02:46 – A “Hollywood” journey: the setup before the turnaround
05:12 – Military legacy and why Zach joined the Marine Corps
07:26 – Deployment betrayal: The Jody story and its aftermath
09:53 – Motorcycle accident and traumatic brain injury
12:07 – Downward spiral: alcohol, depression, and impulse
14:26 – Functioning alcoholic with hidden pain
16:39 – Faking wellness: snowboarding, dirt bikes, and silence
19:00 – The Marine mindset: Suffer in silence
21:23 – March 27: Holding a gun to his head
23:49 – Family fallout and silence during visits
26:32 – March 31: The suicide attempt
28:52 – Jonathan’s close and preview for part two
30 min
June 05, 2025 A Shot at Life: Zach Tidwell’s Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
In this powerful and emotional episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses welcome Zach Tidwell, a blind Marine Corps veteran, suicide survivor, and resilience advocate whose story will leave you speechless—and ultimately inspired.
Zach opens up about his time in the military, the deep emotional wounds following betrayal and traumatic brain injury, and the dark spiral into alcoholism and isolation that followed. At his lowest point, Zach attempted to take his own life and survived a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His recovery, however, would become a testimony not only to medical miracles but to the power of community, perseverance, and purpose.
This is part one of a two-part episode. While today's conversation dives into the pain and trauma Zach endured, next week’s episode will celebrate the transformation—highlighting how Zach rebuilt his life, embraced his blindness, launched a podcast (Going In Blind), and became a voice of hope for others battling mental health challenges.
⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of depression, suicide, and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.
⏱️ Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Intro: Blindness is an adventure
00:27 – Summer vibes, camping, and introducing Zach Tidwell
02:46 – A “Hollywood” journey: the setup before the turnaround
05:12 – Military legacy and why Zach joined the Marine Corps
07:26 – Deployment betrayal: The Jody story and its aftermath
09:53 – Motorcycle accident and traumatic brain injury
12:07 – Downward spiral: alcohol, depression, and impulse
14:26 – Functioning alcoholic with hidden pain
16:39 – Faking wellness: snowboarding, dirt bikes, and silence
19:00 – The Marine mindset: Suffer in silence
21:23 – March 27: Holding a gun to his head
23:49 – Family fallout and silence during visits
26:32 – March 31: The suicide attempt
28:52 – Jonathan’s close and preview for part two
30 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…