Living with CHARGE Syndrome: Deafblindness, Guide Dogs & Thriving | Bethany Joy Boring

1) Episode Summary

Bethany Joy Boring joins Penn and Moses for a candid, funny, and deeply practical conversation about living with CHARGE syndrome, navigating combined vision + hearing loss, and the mindset shifts required to move from “proving yourself” to simply being yourself (as introduced in the recording you provided). Bethany shares her guide-dog journey (including the fear and stigma that delayed her cane use), how Toastmasters became her on-ramp to public speaking, and why she believes storytelling and community are essential to resilience. The episode also clarifies coaching vs. therapy (future-forward growth vs. past-rooted healing), introduces her “egg carton” approach to sharing your story safely, and closes with concrete ways listeners can practice gratitude and “step out and thrive.”

2) Contact Info (guest/org + Aftersight + producer credits)

Guest / Bethany

• Step Out & Thrive (official links hub, plus podcast + socials):
• “Interactive Appreciation Guide” (download page):
• Note: the official links hub uses the name “Bethany B. Joy.”

Aftersight

• The Blind Chick (show page / show info):
• Listener feedback contact (email + phone):
• Low-Vision Support Group: Weekly Wednesdays at 2:00pm (MST), online via Zoom:

Producer Credit

• Produced by Jonathan Price (Aftersight).

3) Show Credits

• Podcast: The Blind Chick (Aftersight Original)
• Hosts: Penn Street & Moses Street
• Producer: Jonathan Price

4) Chapter Markers

00:00 — Show open: “Blindness can be an adventure”
00:28 — Penn & Moses banter + New Year’s check-in (Jan 2026 mention)
02:46 — Bethany intro + “spy novel name” riff
05:09 — CHARGE syndrome explained (what it impacts)
07:08 — Hearing loss realities + “offline” joke
09:22 — Finding the unexpected “perks” + parenting humor
11:36 — Why she resisted the cane + choosing independence
13:52 — New guide dog user story + social media reactions
16:16 — Public speaking with hearing loss: reading the room differently
18:40 — Hearing the audience for the first time (wireless mic moment)
21:00 — Speaking without notes + connecting to the audience
23:23 — “How did you start speaking?” + Toastmasters origin story
25:36 — Purposeful living: everyday “stages” and practicing presence
27:44 — Listening well: “WAIT — Why Am I Talking?”
30:02 — Coaching vs therapy (future growth vs past tracing)
32:13 — Penn’s therapy reflections + disability fatigue and motivation
34:31 — The “prove yourself” burden + redefining worth
36:48 — Work, disability, and the pressure to overperform
39:15 — “What do blind people look like?” + visibility and assumptions
41:35 — “Superpowers” and the hidden skill-building of adaptation
43:59 — Thriving vs chasing goals: becoming more alive
46:24 — Mission mindset: living on purpose (even for small errands)
48:51 — “Egg carton” storytelling: sharing safely, one “egg” at a time
51:11 — Bethany’s podcast: Step Out & Thrive + what it’s for
53:29 — Stages beyond big stages: zoom calls, talks, parenting moments
55:53 — Community impact: people change goals but feel more alive
58:17 — Snorkeling vs scuba: tools for deeper work and resilience
60:30 — Where to find Bethany + appreciation guide resource
62:52 — Closing encouragement + Aftersight resources and support group mention