1) Episode Summary

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow continues the 16-week sports series with a deep dive into goalball—a fast-paced Paralympic sport designed specifically for blind and low-vision athletes.

Kim is joined by Lisa Tarkowski, a six-time Paralympic medalist and multi-sport Paralympian (goalball and track & field), and EJ Whitney, a coach and strength/conditioning professional who has worked closely with U.S. goalball athletes.

Together, they break down:

• How goalball started after World War II and evolved into a Paralympic sport
• How the game is played (court layout, positions, rules, shot clock, eyeshades, ball with bells)
• Offensive and defensive strategies, including spin throws and sound-based deception
• What it takes to train and compete at the elite/Paralympic level
• Injury prevention, recovery, and strength training for high-level goalball athletes
• How beginners can get started recreationally through local clubs and demos
• Why goalball is such a powerful sport for confidence, teamwork, communication, and skill development

The conversation also highlights how adaptive sports environments can become more inclusive through tactile cues, clear coaching communication, and accessible training spaces.


2) Contact Info

Guest / Organization Info

• Lisa Tarkowski — Paralympic goalball athlete (Team USA / Paralympic goalball)
• EJ Whitney — Goalball coach / strength & conditioning support (Turnstone; Team USA goalball training context)
• Resource mentioned: USABA (U.S. Association of Blind Athletes) for goalball information, videos, and recreational pathways (referenced in episode/show notes)

Aftersight

• Show: Navigating Life with Vision Loss (Aftersight)
• Network: Aftersight Podcasts / Aftersight Originals

Producer Credits

• Host: Kim Wardlow
• Producer: Jonathan Price

3) Show Credits

• Podcast: Navigating Life with Vision Loss
• Episode Topic: Goalball, Paralympic competition, and accessible sports pathways
• Host: Kim Wardlow
• Guests: Lisa Tarkowski and EJ Whitney
• Producer: Jonathan Price
• Network: Aftersight

4) Chapter Markers

• 00:03 — Kim introduces the sports series and today’s focus on goalball
• 02:13 — Lisa Tarkowski shares her background and how she got into goalball
• 04:39 — Goalball basics: court layout, gameplay, and defensive objective
• 07:08 — Throwing styles, velocity, movement, and offensive techniques
• 09:33 — Listening, bells in the ball, and sound-based strategy
• 11:59 — Positions explained: wings vs. center and physical demands
• 14:23 — How defensive play has evolved (from standing to low-to-ground play)
• 15:03 — What it feels like to compete at the Paralympics
• 17:20 — Common misconceptions about goalball and Paralympic awareness
• 18:41 — Offensive rules, shot clock, and penalty strategy
• 21:01 — Beginner throws and first steps for learning the game
• 23:25 — Lisa’s advice for new players and younger athletes starting out
• 25:48 — Elite training, strength & conditioning, and injury prevention
• 28: ...

Episode Summary

Navigating Life with Vision Loss launches a new sports series—covering everything from beginner-friendly fitness routines to extreme sports—and kicks things off with beep baseball (often called “beepball”), an adaptive version of baseball designed for blind and low-vision athletes.

Guest Ethan Johnston shares his background (growing up as the only blind kid in a small Missouri town, originally from Ethiopia) and explains how sports and music became “therapy” for him. He walks listeners through how beep baseball works—key rule differences from traditional baseball, defensive positioning, the role of a sighted pitcher and spotters, why everyone wears blindfolds for fairness, and how outs/runs are determined.

The conversation also explores confidence-building for new players, practice drills, the physical intensity of the sport, travel and camaraderie, the season schedule (including tournaments and the “World Series” style championship), equipment costs, and concrete first steps for getting involved—either as a player or as a sighted volunteer (pitcher/spotter).

Contact Info

Getting involved (as shared in the episode):

• Team listings + schedule: NBBA.org (as referenced in the conversation)
• To watch games: search YouTube/Facebook Live for “beep baseball” + your nearest team name (examples mentioned: “Gateway Archers”)

Aftersight (show network):

• Email: feedback@aftersight.org
• Phone: (720) 712-8856

Producer credit:

• Produced by Jonathan Price (Aftersight)

Show Credits

• Podcast: Navigating Life with Vision Loss (Aftersight Original)
• Host: Kim Wardlow
• Guest: Ethan Johnston
• Producer: Jonathan Price

Chapter Markers

• 00:00 — Welcome + sports series kickoff
• 02:23 — Ethan’s background + how he found beep baseball in Colorado
• 04:48 — How the game works: two bases, zones, defense setup
• 07:15 — Pitcher/batter on same team + strikes/innings + mercy-rule talk
• 09:40 — Safety + beeping ball + why you don’t “throw to first”
• 12:02 — Blindfolds + spotters + communication and lane integrity
• 14:14 — How an out is made + close calls + volunteer officiating
• 16:35 — Home run rules + highlight plays + rare catches/double plays
• 19:00 — Building confidence for new players + running to the correct base
• 21:20 — Practice drills + timing + why hitting in the air matters
• 23:20 — Season timeline + training/conditioning routines
• 25:45 — Travel, fundraising, and team camaraderie
• 27:47 — Youth participation + age realities + lack of “minor league”
• 30:12 — Equipment costs + durability (balls/bases)
• 32:38 — How to join: NBBA.org + joining a nearby team even out-of-state
• 34:48 — Longevity in the sport + older players still producing
• 36:22 — Favorite positions + hardest skill (don’t listen to the ball)
• 38:44 — Veteran mindset + unforgettable moments
• 40:52 — How to attend/watch games + final thoughts
• 43:09 — Aftersight show plug + closing remarks

• (00:00) - Tempo: 120.0

Contact Info
Aftersight / Navigating Life with Vision Loss
Website: https://www.aftersight.org
Phone: (720) 712-8856
Email: feedback@aftersight.org
Support Aftersight on Colorado Gives Day:
https://www.coloradogives.org
→ Search Aftersight
Other Aftersight Podcasts
The Blind Chick
Blindsight
Blind Level Tech
Code Orange
Producer Credits
Produced by Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer at Aftersight.
Audio editing and production coordination also by Jonathan Price.

Show Credits
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest Co-Host: Aftersight podcast host
Producer: Jonathan Price
Network: Aftersight Originals

Chapter Markers
00:00 – Intro and purpose of the episode
00:25 – Safety Series recap
01:10 – Colorado Gives Day announcement
02:20 – Listener concerns about traveling alone
04:45 – Understanding independence and personal limits
08:15 – Building a supportive safety network
12:00 – How to connect with neighbors
14:15 – Safety while traveling with a cane
16:00 – Tools, instincts, and situational awareness
20:30 – Online scams and digital safety
24:30 – How to verify legitimacy and report fraud
28:40 – Budget-friendly home safety ideas
34:00 – Smart lights, clear paths, and tactile access
38:00 – Importance of safety in everyday life
39:15 – Aftersight podcast recommendations
40:10 – Closing message and encouragement