Episodios

  • Sharing Your Story With the World -- Bethany Joy Boring

    Sharing Your Story With the World -- Bethany Joy Boring
    Nov 21 2025
    Part 4 of the “Telling Your Story” series explores the moment after you’ve shared your story with a few trusted people—and what it takes to move from private courage to public confidence. Bill and Bethany dive into shame, identity, pride, and the fear of “sticking out,” unpacking how those internal battles shape the way people with blindness show up in the world.
    The conversation moves through humor, hard truths, and deeply human stories—from awkward cane moments and guide-dog pride to skydiving, kitchen mishaps, and falling off stages. Bill reflects on learning to speak to thousands without knowing it, and Bethany shares the tension of wanting to inspire but not wanting to be an “inspiration story.”
    Together, they break down:
    Why sharing your story helps you reclaim your identity
    How to deal with misunderstanding, awkward interactions, and unwanted “help”
    Why shame often shows up for blind and low-vision people—and how to push back
    The difference between doing life differently and being “less than”
    How humor becomes a powerful tool to open people up
    Why everyday moments—helping your kids with homework, hiking with a guide dog, navigating a picnic—are the real stages you stand on
    Why connecting with others who “get it” matters to your confidence and resilience
    This episode encourages listeners to embrace their story, share it boldly (even when it’s uncomfortable), and recognize that everyday courage creates real change.
    Contact Info
    Guest / Co-Host
    Bethany Joy Boring
    Aftersight
    Website: aftersight.org
    Email for guest inquiries: jonathan@aftersight.org
    Phone: 720-712-8856
    Producer Credits
    Produced by Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer at Aftersight.

    Show Credits
    Host: Bill Lundgren
    Co-Host: Bethany Joy Boring
    Producer: Jonathan Price
    An Aftersight Original Podcast

    Chapter Markers
    00:00 — Opening & Recap of the Series
    01:48 — Sharing Your Story Beyond Close Friends
    03:50 — Hurtful Comments, Vulnerability, and Identity
    05:30 — Humor as a Tool for Comfort and Connection
    07:48 — Finding Language to Explain Vision Loss
    09:40 — Bill’s Early Podcast Nerves & Learning New Tech
    11:30 — Realizing Your Story Reaches the World
    13:00 — Shame, Pride, and “Doing Things Differently”
    15:20 — Basketball, Muscle Memory & Challenging Assumptions
    17:45 — Everyday Moments as Your “Podium”
    20:10 — Cane Shame, Guide Dogs & Accepting Visibility
    22:39 — Advocating for Yourself Without Apology
    24:20 — Pain, Triumphs & Why Both Matter
    26:25 — Hikes, Helpfulness & When Others Get in the Way
    28:40 — The Universal Language of Struggle
    30:15 — Using Technology to Connect With Family
    32:10 — Educating the Public (Even When You’re Tired)
    34:00 — Healthy Boundaries, “Hug Reflex,” and Self-Advocacy
    36:10 — Building a Circle That Stays at the Table
    38:00 — Everyday Courage & Living Life Differently
    41:05 — Closing Reflections on Storytelling and Connection
    Más Menos
    49 m
  • Shut Up (Kindly) and Listen: Active Listening, Safe Storytelling, and Communication in the Blind Community

    Shut Up (Kindly) and Listen: Active Listening, Safe Storytelling, and Communication in the Blind Community
    Nov 14 2025
    Episode Summary
    This episode of Blindsight takes a deep dive into one of the most essential yet difficult skills in mental and emotional health: active listening. Host Bill Lundgren and returning guest-turned-co-host Bethany Joy Boring explore how silence, curiosity, and emotional safety shape meaningful connection—especially within the blind and low-vision community, where non-visual cues and communication dynamics differ from the sighted world.
    Bill and Bethany demonstrate a live role-play showing how quickly conversation can derail when someone asserts dominance, makes assumptions, or stops listening. They break down the moment tension begins, the bodily sensations that signal emotional shifts, and the way triggers—both spoken and unspoken—shape responses.

    Listeners learn:
    Why silence can be a powerful connector rather than something to fear
    How to approach storytelling only with people who feel safe
    How to gently redirect when someone interrupts, overpowers, or shifts the focus
    The emotional cost of constantly “filling space” when you are blind or hard of hearing
    How to identify your “marble jar people” (those who can hold your real story)
    The importance of permission: knowing when someone wants listening, guidance, or simply presence
    This conversation is honest, practical, and deeply human—offering strategies for better communication, better boundaries, and better emotional awareness.

    Contact Info
    Guest / Co-Host
    Bethany Joy Boring — Mental Health Consultant & Author
    Aftersight
    Website: aftersight.org
    Feedback & questions: feedback@aftersight.org
    Phone: (720) 712-8856
    Producer
    Jonathan Price — Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight
    jonathan@aftersight.org

    Show Credits
    Host: Bill Lundgren
    Co-Host: Bethany Joy Boring
    Producer: Jonathan Price
    An Aftersight Original Podcast

    4) Chapter Markers
    00:00 — Opening & Topic Introduction
    01:12 — Why Active Listening Is Hard Today
    02:40 — Role-Play: When Communication Breaks Down
    04:52 — Identifying the Moment Tension Begins
    07:18 — How Body Signals Warn Us Early
    09:40 — Practicing Awareness Before Hard Conversations
    12:14 — The Listener’s Job: Curiosity, Not Assumption
    14:22 — Staying Calm When Conversations Escalate
    16:47 — How Vocabulary Changes Emotional Tone
    18:56 — Safety, Storytelling, and Permission
    21:11 — “I’m With You”: The Power of Silent Presence
    23:18 — Bill’s Example: Silence as Support
    25:32 — Why Silence Scares Us
    27:46 — Protecting Yourself When You Can’t See/Hear
    30:05 — When Pretending to Be OK Becomes Default
    32:31 — How to Ask: “Do You Want Listening or Advice?”
    34:53 — Not Everyone Is a Safe Person, and That’s OK
    36:58 — Responding When Someone Minimizes Your Story
    39:22 — Setting Boundaries Gently
    41:32 — You Don’t Have to Stay in Unsafe Conversations
    43:54 — Circles of Intimacy & “Marble Jar People”
    46:16 — Sharing Vulnerability Only With the Right People
    48:14 — Your Story Matters
    50:40 — Closing Reflections & Next Episode Teaser
    Más Menos
    53 m
  • Storytime for Grown-Ups: Who’s Safe to Listen? Bethany Joy Boring Episode 2

    Storytime for Grown-Ups: Who’s Safe to Listen? Bethany Joy Boring Episode 2
    Nov 7 2025
    Episode Summary
    Part Two moves from private reflection to sharing your story with someone else. Bill and Bethany cover how to choose a slice of your story, when to share, and how to assess whether a listener is safe. They model practical tactics: make the story linear by writing or recording, start imperfectly, use an “appreciation anchor” to regulate when emotions spike, and share in proportion to the relationship’s intimacy. They introduce the “Four S’s” for evaluating safe listeners (Seen, Safe, Secure, Soothing) and demonstrate how to ask for what you need (“do you want suggestions or listening?”). Exercise 2 focuses on identifying safe people and practicing gratitude with one of them.

    Exercise 2 — Defining Safe People (on-air reference)
    Purpose: Identify people who can hold your story without judgment.
    Steps:
    • List three people you talk to most often.
    • For each, note: Do they listen without fixing? Do they respect confidentiality? Do I feel calmer afterward?
    • Rank them for emotional safety.
    • Pick one and thank them for being a safe presence.
    Reflection: “What qualities make me feel safest — and how can I model them?”

    Contact Info
    Guest: Bethany Joy Boring — Speaker, coach, group facilitator
    Aftersight: aftersight.org | feedback@aftersight.org | (720) 712-8856
    Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight — jonathan@aftersight.org

    Show Credits
    Host: Bill Lundgren
    Guest: Bethany Joy Boring
    Series: Blindsight — Telling Your Story
    Production: Aftersight Originals
    Producer: Jonathan Price
    Recording and post: Aftersight Audio Team

    Chapter Markers
    00:00 — Cold open and setup
    02:24 — Pick a slice: what and why to share
    04:44 — Permission to start imperfectly
    06:44 — From circular thoughts to linear drafts
    09:08 — Choose a safe place to create
    11:32 — Naming emotions; IFS curiosity over control
    13:51 — You decide pace and boundaries
    16:17 — Body as protector; respecting limits
    18:29 — Perspective shifts over time
    20:16 — Imagery, low vision, and getting “unstuck”
    22:41 — Appreciation anchor as safety net
    25:03 — Right-size the share for the relationship
    27:32 — Levels of intimacy as guide rails
    31:43 — The Four S’s: Seen, Safe, Secure, Soothing
    34:47 — Rehearsing stories builds resilience
    37:01 — Authenticity on stage and in life
    39:30 — Fixing vs listening; set expectations
    41:55 — The power of shared silence
    43:47 — Validate first; advice later
    46:11 — Ask for what you need explicitly
    48:13 — Model the behavior you want
    50:13 — Practice listening; it’s a skill
    53:44 — Vulnerability with progressive loss
    56:09 — Invite others into your story
    57:58 — Final takeaways and next steps
    60:08 — Outro and resources
    Más Menos
    1 h y 2 m
  • Telling Your Story with Bethany Joy Boring

    Telling Your Story with Bethany Joy Boring
    Oct 31 2025
    Bill Lundgren and guest Bethany Joy Boring open a four-part series on how to tell your story. They frame why full-life “from birth to now” dumps overwhelm, and why starting with one scene creates safety and clarity. Bill shares turning points in hearing and vision loss, including the friend who told him the truth and stayed present. Bethany shows how hiding burns energy and blocks connection, how to choose safe listeners, and how adaptive skills become a communication superpower. They outline practical guardrails: begin with one moment, notice body cues, set relational boundaries, and take one small step today.

    Contact Info
    Guest: Bethany Joy Boring, mental health consultant and author.
    Aftersight: feedback@aftersight.org
    | (720) 712-8856
    Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight

    Show Credits
    Host: Bill Lundgren
    Guest: Bethany Joy Boring
    Producer: Jonathan Price
    Recording & Post: Aftersight Originals

    Chapter Markers
    00:00 — Opening and series setup
    02:26 — Bethany’s origin and the 20-minute story frame
    04:49 — “Start with a scene,” not a saga
    07:15 — Bill’s hearing message: “try harder”
    09:18 — The energy cost of hiding
    11:19 — Naming fear of others’ reactions
    13:24 — The truth-telling friend and a career pivot
    15:39 — Walking with allies vs. walking alone
    18:03 — Professional identity and disclosure
    20:21 — Adaptive storytelling as a superpower
    22:38 — Selecting safe people, not boxes
    25:03 — Asking for help without shame
    27:27 — Play, humor, and dignity at home
    29:43 — Safety checks before sharing
    32:03 — Boundaries, pacing, and “workout soreness”
    34:12 — The raw-egg test for trust
    36:36 — Reciprocity: listen as you share
    38:46 — Journaling when writing is hard
    41:06 — Start small and adaptable
    43:32 — Be selective; avoid relational poison
    45:55 — Radical acceptance, defined and disliked
    48:19 — One small action before you hit stop

    Exercise 1 — The Mirror Story
    Purpose: Start healing by safely naming what’s real.

    Steps:
    Choose a quiet moment.
    Write or record your personal story of loss or change.
    Add one line beginning with: “The part of my story I’ve avoided saying out loud is…”
    When finished, set it aside for 24 hours before reading or replaying it.
    On review, mark any sentences that made you pause, tear up, or smile.
    Reflection Prompt: “What truth did my body recognize before my mind did?”
    Más Menos
    49 m
  • Fireworks in Your Eyeballs (Some Assembly Required)

    Fireworks in Your Eyeballs (Some Assembly Required)
    Oct 14 2025
    Bill Lundgren interviews Lily Turkstra, a PhD researcher at UC Santa Barbara, on the realities of visual prostheses. They unpack who qualifies, what “seeing” with phosphenes is like, how training works, and why expectation-setting and mental health support are critical. Takeaways: current implants provide rudimentary perception, not natural vision; outcomes vary; support systems and rehab matter; independence gains are possible but individualized; clinicians and families must align on expectations.

    Contact Info
    Guest resources: bionic-vision.org (lab hub), bionicvision.org (lab site)
    Aftersight: (720) 712-8856 • feedback@aftersight.org
    • aftersight.org
    Producer: Jonathan Price • jonathan@aftersight.org

    Show Credits
    Host: Bill Lundgren
    Guest: Lily, PhD researcher, UCSB (Bionic Vision)
    Producer: Jonathan Price
    Editor/Mix: Aftersight Audio Team
    A production of Aftersight

    Chapter Markers
    00:00 — Why prosthetics in blindness matters
    01:10 — Guest intro: Lily’s path to bionic vision
    02:22 — From auditory perception to NASA to face blindness
    03:40 — Who qualifies for visual implants
    05:05 — Argus II and early devices
    07:06 — What users actually “see”: phosphenes
    08:20 — Learning a new visual language
    09:30 — Daily-life integration vs lab outcomes
    10:45 — Setting expectations for users and families
    12:05 — Trade-offs: adaptation vs frustration
    14:10 — What recognition is possible today
    15:30 — Rehab and training workflows
    16:37 — Practical home practice examples
    18:10 — Community, altruism, and trial motivation
    19:45 — Device limits vs “personal failure”
    21:23 — External pressure and mental health
    22:40 — “Change your life” claims, defined
    23:51 — Independence as the real metric
    25:10 — Measuring success outside the lab
    27:10 — Family dynamics and letting go
    30:01 — Finding peers and support
    32:18 — Access barriers and consistency of care
    34:25 — Integrating the device back into life
    36:30 — Therapy and anxiety considerations
    38:48 — Pre-implant psychological screening
    41:18 — Whole-person fit and timing
    43:40 — Research vs user expectations gap
    46:01 — Co-design with users
    48:23 — Why structured support groups would help
    49:01 — Where to find trials and teams
    51:28 — Resource sharing for the public
    53:51 — Summary: useful, not universal; mindset matters
    56:18 — Closing and resources recap
    Más Menos
    58 m
  • Blindsight — Phoenix: Ashley’s Rise After Darkness

    Blindsight — Phoenix: Ashley’s Rise After Darkness
    Oct 10 2025
    In this powerful episode of Blindsight, host Bill Lundgren speaks with Ashley, a survivor whose journey through trauma, depression, and blindness has forged a message of resilience and rebirth. Ashley opens up about her early struggles with family instability, mental illness, and a life-changing suicide attempt that left her blind but ultimately set her on a path toward self-discovery and purpose. She discusses the process of rebuilding her life after losing her sight, finding independence at Perkins School for the Blind, and redefining strength through the metaphor of the Phoenix—rising renewed from her own ashes. Ashley and Bill explore themes of mental health, self-foundation, interdependence, and the delicate balance between support and autonomy for people who are blind. This episode is a raw and inspiring reminder that healing begins when we stop hiding from the fire and start walking through it. Contact Information Guest: Ashley — Mental Health Advocate & Public Speaker Organization: Perkins School for the Blind Host: Bill Lundgren Producer: Jonathan Price Podcast Network: Aftersight 📩 For Resources or Questions: contact@aftersight.org ☎️ If You or Someone You Know Is Struggling: Dial 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) 🌐 Learn More: www.aftersight.org Show Credits Host: Bill Lundgren Guest: Ashley Producer: Jonathan Price Audio Production: Aftersight Studios Presented by: Aftersight — Empowering the Blind and Low-Vision Community Chapter Markers 00:00 — Introduction and Content Warning 01:00 — Ashley’s Early Life and Family Struggles 05:00 — Mental Health and Early Depression 07:00 — Trauma, Self-Harm, and Institutional Care 09:00 — The Night of the Attempt 13:00 — Waking Up Blind: A New Beginning 16:00 — Recovery and Perkins School for the Blind 18:00 — Becoming the Phoenix 21:00 — Building a Foundation of Self 25:00 — Learning Independence and Advocacy 30:00 — Accepting Blindness and Teaching Others 39:00 — Mental Health, Balance, and Support Systems 46:00 — Lessons in Interdependence and Resilience 49:00 — Steps Toward Healing and Moving Forward 52:00 — Closing Thoughts and Crisis Resources
    Más Menos
    52 m
  • Pens, Pixels & Possibility: Writing Our Way Beyond Limits: Part 2 with Elyse Draper

    Pens, Pixels & Possibility: Writing Our Way Beyond Limits: Part 2 with Elyse Draper
    Aug 8 2025
    Bill Lundgren continues his deep-dive with author and publisher Elyse Draper, exploring how writing can serve as catharsis and empowerment for people with disabilities. They unpack the idea that adaptive technology is simply “tools for the job,” spotlight Elyse’s Super Abled children’s-story app and the VI&B Creatives Workshop, and demystify AI as a creative ally. Practical tips on memoir-style journaling, freewriting without self-censorship, and using AI platforms like Gemini round out an encouraging conversation on turning personal challenges into narrative strength.

    Contact Info
    Elyse Draper — Senior Editor, iPub Cloud
    Email: E.Draper@ipubcloud.org
    Publishing House & Store: https://ipubcloud.org
    VI&B Creatives Workshop: https://viandbcreativesworkshop.com
    Super Abled App: https://super_abled.com

    Aftersight — Non-profit media network
    Phone: (720) 712-8856
    Email: feedback@aftersight.org
    Podcasts & resources: https://aftersight.org/podcast
    Producer Credits: Jonathan Price — Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight

    Show Credits
    Host: Bill Lundgren
    Guest: Elyse Draper
    Producer: Jonathan Price
    Recording & Post-Production: Aftersight Studios

    Chapter Markers
    00:00 Intro & Part 1 recap
    02:18 “Tools for the job” mindset
    04:44 Launching the Super Abled project
    07:05 First steps for therapeutic writing
    09:26 Introspection through speculative fiction
    11:53 Writing for yourself vs. an audience
    14:21 AI as a creativity partner
    16:29 How to reach Elyse & project links
    18:58 Storytelling, donations, and final takeaways
    20:25 Closing remarks
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    21 m
  • Writing Through the Darkness: Creativity, Mental Health, and Vision Loss (Part 1)

    Writing Through the Darkness: Creativity, Mental Health, and Vision Loss (Part 1)
    Aug 1 2025
    In this emotionally powerful Part 1 episode of Blindsight, Bill Lundgren sits down with Elyse Draper—author, illustrator, and founder of the VI&B Creatives Workshop. Elyse shares her incredible journey from visual artist to writer, and how the onset of vision loss reshaped her life, family dynamics, and identity. Through raw stories of grief, mental health challenges, and creative survival, Elyse invites listeners into a deeper understanding of how art can be a lifeline. The episode explores the origins of VI&B, the importance of peer support in the blind community, and how writing can offer both healing and purpose.
    Come back next week for Part 2 of this inspiring conversation.
    At the end of the episode, Jonathan Price shares details about the upcoming Audio Trekkers Hike on September 13th—an inclusive outdoor experience for the blind and low-vision community and their supporters.

    📞 Contact Information
    Aftersight Website: https://aftersight.org
    Hike Details: https://aftersight.org/hike
    Email: feedback@aftersight.org
    Phone: (720) 712-8856

    ⏱️ Chapter Markers
    00:00 – Welcome to Blindsight
    01:30 – Elyse’s journey from visual arts to writing
    04:45 – Diagnosis, grief, and writing as catharsis
    09:25 – Building VI&B: A platform for blind creatives
    13:15 – Blindness and the new language of art
    18:20 – Accessibility innovations driven by disability
    23:00 – Career gaps for creatives with disabilities
    27:45 – Hike announcement and closing remarks
    Más Menos
    30 m