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Heard & Empowered

National Industries for the Blind

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The Heard & Empowered podcast is where the blind and visually impaired (BVI) community finds job inspiration, career opportunities, and a path to success. Presented by National Industries for the Blind—a leader in job creation for BVI individuals—this podcast is your go-to resource for thriving professionally in a sighted world. Join the host, Dr. Hoby Wedler, every week on Wednesday, as he and his guests dismantle stereotypes, offer expert advice, and share success stories to help you build ...
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Episode 114 | Dr. Hoby Wedler (Ph.D. Chemist, Sensory Expert and Entrepreneur) joins the podcast! In this episode, Hoby discusses his successes in academia and business, his experiences with forming friendships, business partnerships, and finding love as a blind man, and how he uniquely uses his senses to "see" the world. SEE-THROUGH is hosted by L…
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Maurice Crittendon is the senior specialist for talent acquisition at NSITE. After losing his sight due to diabetic retinopathy, Maurice ventured to Minneapolis for orientation and mobility training before returning to the Washington, D.C. area. Accepted into National Industries for the Blind’s (NIB) Fellowship for Leadership Development, his journ…
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Heard & Empowered was created to show that anything is possible when you show up with the right mindset and attitude. Our guest this week, Jonathan Lucus, exemplifies this ethos in everything he does as the director of NSITE, which is National Industries for the Blind’s (NIB) talent management enterprise. NSITE works with public and private corpora…
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Episode 113 | Lance discusses his visit to the Enchanted Hills Camp! Owned and managed by the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired San Francisco, the Enchanted Hills Camp and Retreat has been serving blind children, teens, adults, deaf-blind individuals, seniors, and families of the blind since 1950. Enchanted Hills has provided valuable …
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Dr. Hoby Wedler welcomes returning guest Doug Goist to the podcast this week. Doug is a program manager for workforce development at NSITE where he helps people who are blind and visually impaired find employment by providing training opportunities. Blindness doesn’t get adequate coverage in most diversity training, so NSITE created a program calle…
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Minisode 003 | Lance dives into the potential benefits of a groundbreaking night vision technology that promises the advantages of night vision goggles in a lightweight, compact glasses form. Discover how this innovation could revolutionize the lives of individuals affected by conditions like retinitis pigmentosa and night blindness. SEE-THROUGH is…
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Episode 112 | Vinnie Kayata (Legally Blind Hot Rodder) joins the podcast! In this episode, Vinnie talks to Lance about his project of rebuilding a Vintage Speedster, which he's named The RP Flyer. The RP Flyer combines a 1930 Ford Model A engine, chassis, suspension, and axles with the body of a 1927 Ford Model T Roadster Pickup. Once completed, it…
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In this week’s episode, Dr. Hoby Wedler is joined by Brandye Lacy, the marketing coordinator at Travis Association for the Blind, also known as Austin Lighthouse. With a passion for writing and advocacy, she excels at crafting and telling compelling stories while championing causes that break down barriers to equality and equity. Brandye began losi…
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Minisode 002 | Lance dives into a Hollywood Reporter article about Jake Gyllenhaal's visual impairment and tries to figure out if the actor is legally blind. SEE-THROUGH is hosted by Lance Johnson. Based in New York City, Lance is a video editor living with the eye disease - retinitis pigmentosa or RP for short. In most cases, RP causes legal-blind…
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Do you ever wonder if there is a purpose for blindness? How can it be seen as a gift? This week, Dr. Hoby Wedler is joined by Blake Lindsay, an author, public speaker, voice artist, and the director of communications and outreach for Envision Dallas. They explore these questions as well as discuss Blake’s fascinating story. While enjoying a 22-year…
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Dr. Hoby Wedler welcomes a familiar voice back to the podcast this week as he sits down with the Executive Vice President at Bosma Enterprises, Lise Pace, live from the 2024 NIB Public Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. Lise shares her remarkable journey from a diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa in her early 20s to the thriving and fulfilling career s…
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Episode 111 | Margaret Comin makes her very first podcast appearance! In this episode, Margaret shares the powerful story of how she lost her sight in a childhood accident at 2 1/2 years old and how that pivotal event profoundly shaped her life and family dynamics. SEE-THROUGH is hosted by Lance Johnson. Based in New York City, Lance is a video edi…
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Minisode 001 | Lance discusses a controversial scene from the TV show "The Boys" that involves the characters Homelander and Blindspot. SEE-THROUGH is hosted by Lance Johnson. Based in New York City, Lance is a video editor living with the eye disease - retinitis pigmentosa or RP for short. In most cases, RP causes legal-blindness by the age of 40.…
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Dr. Hoby Wedler welcomes a very special guest to the podcast this week: the one and only Soraya Correa, the new president and CEO of National Industries for the Blind. After starting her career as a clerk typist, Soraya rose through the ranks of the federal government to join the Senior Executive Service. She held key leadership roles at the Genera…
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This week, Dr. Hoby Wedler is joined by Dan Kelly, the Vice President of Public Policy for the National Association for the Employment of People Who Are Blind (NAEPB) and President and CEO of IFB Solutions. Dan is a dedicated advocate for the blind and visually impaired community, whose unwavering dedication shines through every aspect of his work.…
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In this episode, Dr. Hoby Wedler has the distinct pleasure of welcoming to the podcast Kevin Lynch, president and CEO emeritus of National Industries for the Blind (NIB). He retired April 30, 2023, from a 44-year career working and serving for the blind and visually impaired community in various capacities. Kevin, a visionary leader, shares his ins…
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The human spirit’s capacity to overcome adversity is strong, especially in today’s guest, MaryBeth Clare. She sits down with Dr. Hoby Wedler to discuss the setbacks she faced after losing her vision, and how those were replaced by the determination and desire to grow that have kept her going in her role as lead cashier and stocker for the military …
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In this episode, Dr. Hoby Wedler sits down with Rob Buettner, Vice President of Relationships & Business Services at Beyond Vision, to talk about leadership, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and where they merge. After being diagnosed with Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy as a young adult, Rob faced uncertainty and darkness. It wasn’t until he found a comm…
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Episode 110 | In this solo episode, Lance shares FIVE things about podcasting that he has learned from his FOUR years of hosting SEE-THROUGH. SEE-THROUGH is hosted by Lance Johnson. Based in New York City, Lance is a video editor living with the eye disease retinitis pigmentosa or RP for short. On average, RP causes legal-blindness by the age of 40…
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Today, National Industries for the Blind (NIB)’s Spring Conference and Public Policy Forum wraps up with the annual Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, so it's very fitting that this week Dr. Hoby Wedler is joined by NIB’s Vice President of Public Policy, Rick Webster. Rick brings a unique perspective to the podcast as a sighted person passionately commi…
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This week, Dr. Hoby Wedler dives deep into the world of policy change and advocacy with two remarkable individuals, former Congressman, Luke Messer and Jeff Mittman, CEO of Bosma Enterprises. Luke, with his extensive background in politics and public service, and Jeff, a true advocate for the blind and visually impaired through his leadership at Bo…
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Episode 109 | Michiel Janssen (Founder - AYES) joins the podcast! Michiel talks to Lance about developing Oko, which is a best-in-class, AI-enhanced navigation app prioritizing people with blindness and other disabilities first. SEE-THROUGH is hosted by Lance Johnson. Based in New York City, Lance is a video editor living with a rare and incurable …
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Are you ready to stand up and make a real impact on the world for BVI folks? In this motivating and inspiring episode of Heard & Empowered, Dr. Hoby Wedler welcomes Vivian Fridas to the podcast to share how, regardless of ability, we can all thrive and contribute meaningfully to the world. Vivian was born with cone-rod dystrophy, and the discrimina…
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As we gear up for National Industries for the Blind Public Policy Forum 2024, Dr. Hoby Wedler is joined by Shannon Satterfield, Director of Professional Services at IFB Solutions, to share his extraordinary journey of struggle and advocacy. Shannon was born with achromatopsia and before joining IFB Solutions, he encountered numerous challenges desp…
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Episode 108 | Jamey Carrington (Disabled Content Creator) joins the show for his first ever podcast appearance! In this episode, Jamey opens up about his life as a teenager with a disability. Jamey discusses his future goals, high school drama, the dating world as disabled teen, his strong faith in God, having a dark sense of humor, Andrew Tate, an…
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You’re in for an inspiring episode this week as Lee Nasehi, the President and CEO of VisionServe Alliance, joins Dr. Hoby Wedler! The impact of Lee’s long-standing dedication to the blind and visually impaired community cannot be overstated, and it has brought significant changes. Today, Lee shares her journey of becoming a seasoned advocate and ex…
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If you're looking for inspiration on your job search, this week's conversation is sure to deliver. Dr. Hoby Wedler is joined by Yasmin Campbell, a graduate of the NSITE program and a champion for self-belief, self-advocacy, and furthering opportunities for the BVI community. Yasmin's plans took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with retinit…
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Episode 107 | Mara Lauren joins the podcast! In this episode, Mara tells Lance the story of how she rebuilt her life and mental state after being diagnosed in adulthood with the blinding eye conditions retinitis pigmentosa & usher syndrome. SEE-THROUGH is hosted by Lance Johnson. Based in New York City, Lance is a video editor living with a rare an…
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Are you encountering challenge after challenge in your job search? If so, you need to listen in. Dr. Hoby Wedler is joined this week by LaKenia Garnes, the Purchasing Assistant for the Base Supply Center at Lighthouse for the Blind Seattle. She shares how she overcame obstacles and job rejections to finally find a position that she loves and where …
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In the search for your dream job, hard work and dedication truly do pay off, a truth vividly embodied by this week’s guest, Brandi Hunter. Serving as the Human Resources Staffing Coordinator at Blind Industries & Services of Maryland (BISM), Brandi shares with Dr. Hoby Wedler her inspiring journey to securing a job she is passionate about. Her path…
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Episode 106 | Kim & Kai Owens (Navigating Blindness) join the podcast! In this episode, you'll learn how to navigate blindness from two perspectives. You'll learn from Kai, who was diagnosed with a rare eye condition at the age of ten, which has left him almost completely blind. You'll also learn from Kai's mom, Kim, as she shares the mother's pers…
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Get ready for an inspiring story of tenacity and hard work as Dr. Hoby Wedler is joined by Thomas Stivers, Systems Administrator for the Travis Association for the Blind at Austin Lighthouse. Ever since high school, Thomas had big dreams of working with computers, but it wasn’t until later in his career that these dreams would become reality. Thoma…
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Reynaldo Villarreal is the director of workforce development at Valley Center for the Blind (VCB) in Central California, one of NIB’s associated nonprofit agencies. He joins Dr. Hoby Wedler to share his story about blindness and the impactful work he does at VCB. Rey explains the impact a nonprofit like Valley Center for the Blind have on employmen…
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Episode 105 | Karthik Kannan (CTO of Envision) returns to the podcast to get Lance up to speed on the supersonic changes that are happening over at his accessible tech company, Envision. Envision creates AI fueled tools for the blind and visually impaired community such as the Envision glasses and app. According to Karthik, AI is the best thing to …
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Scarlet Nishimoto endured over 60 job application rejections due to the bias and social stigma that exist around blindness in the hiring world. But her unstoppable and relentless nature, along with her heart-centered mission of helping the BVI community, led her to continue searching. Discover how she has built a meaningful, purposeful, and success…
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Explore Nina Bektic-Marrero's remarkable journey from facing the adversity of war and vision loss to becoming a shining example of success in the business world. Nina's story is not just about overcoming obstacles, it's about transforming them into stepping stones towards greatness. Find out how she navigated from a humble beginning as a switchboar…
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A story of perseverance and overcoming obstacles, Scott Collins shares why it's never too late to give yourself the opportunity to succeed. From losing his vision to retinitis pigmentosa to becoming the head of NIB's Contract Management Support (CMS) program, discover his unconventional journey and how he got to be in a position today where he help…
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Discover the innovative ways in which nonprofits can generate income to fund their mission of empowering the blind and visually impaired community. Special guest, Teri Shirk, President & CEO of CABVI joins us again on this episode to share her insights on incorporating for-profit arms to serve nonprofit organizations in this fascinating show. For f…
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Episode 104 | With Valentine’s Day basically here, I wanted to bring Stephanie Renberg on the podcast to discuss the world of dating as a legally blind woman! In this episode, Stephanie gives her personal insights on what red flags to look for in potential romantic partners, how to disclose your disability on dating apps or in-person, how the sound…
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Join our host Dr. Hoby Wedler for Part 1 of an enlightening conversation with Teri Shirk, President and CEO of Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI). Teri shares insights on how NIB's associated nonprofit agencies provide fulfilling jobs, financial independence, and a transitional process from social security benefits t…
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Meet Sharon Giovinazzo as she talks about how National Industries for the Blind (NIB) agencies can help people with vision loss reach their career goals. Find out how you can gain employment, achieve financial freedom, and secure benefits while making a real difference in the blind and visually impaired community. For full transcript and show notes…
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Join our host, Dr. Hoby Wedler, as he sits with Sophia McCall to discover how she learned to live with blindness as an adult due to diabetic retinopathy. Sophia was able to find a path of self-confidence and independence through the support of Lighthouse Central Florida and others in the BVI community. Discover more about her journey, struggles, an…
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In this episode of the Heard & Empowered podcast by NIB, listen to Kyle Johnson as he discusses the importance of seeking help for blind or visually impaired individuals as a first step toward finding meaningful jobs. Discover career opportunities and available jobs through National Industries for the Blind. Join Kyle and our host Dr. Hoby Wedler a…
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Episode 103 | Sam Atwood (Blind Comedian) joins the podcast! In this episode, Sam sits down with Lance to discuss his stand up comedy, his mental health struggles, and the transition from legal blindness to total blindness. SEE-THROUGH is hosted by Lance Johnson. Based in New York City, Lance is a video editor living with a rare and incurable eye c…
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This episode is a live recording of Dr. Hoby Wedler introducing the Heard & Empowered Podcast at the National Industries for the Blind 2023 Conference as he led a panel of guests to showcase success stories, provide resources, and champion people who are blind in the workforce. He shared his personal experience of facing discrimination in the job m…
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Episode 102 | To help prepare and reframe your mind for your 2024 endeavors, Lance shares and dissects some of his favorite inspirational quotes! SEE-THROUGH is hosted by Lance Johnson. Based in New York City, Lance is a video editor living with the eye disease - retinitis pigmentosa or RP for short. In most cases, RP causes legal-blindness by the …
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Meet dynamic Brian Petraits, an industrial engineer and Director of Manufacturing at Bosma Enterprises who lost his sight due to retinitis pigmentosa. Listen to his experience on how he proved that being visually impaired and asking for help doesn't have to be a barrier to achieving success or job fulfillment. Learn about adaptive technology at Bos…
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Lise Pace lost her vision due to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and she discovered life isn't over when you lose your sight. You just have to find ways to do things differently. Listen to her journey from sight loss to success as Executive VP at Bosma Enterprises. NIB’s Heard & Empowered podcast offers invaluable insights into overcoming challenges, fin…
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In this episode of the Heard & Empowered podcast, Richard Oliver of Industries of the Blind in North Carolina shares how he has been in every role at his agency—except payroll and president—and has flourished in a supportive environment with mentors and training to enhance and develop skills. You, too, can find meaningful careers with upward mobili…
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Episode 101 | Anne Mok joins the podcast! In this episode, Anne chats with Lance about how she found her life's purpose after being diagnosed with legal blindness and NDPH (New Daily Persistent Headaches). Anne also opens up about her TEDx talk, motherhood, digital accessibility, self care, and more! SEE-THROUGH is hosted by Lance Johnson. Based in…
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