2411 Encore of 1244 Hiking the Appalachian Trail Solo (Mar. 13, 2024)


2411 Encore of 1244 Hiking the Appalachian Trail Solo (Mar. 13, 2024)


Show Notes

A long hike can be much more than a walk in the woods. We’ll talk with Karl Ritter, also known as Bats, about long distance hiking including his end-to-end hike on the 2200 mile long Appalachian Trail. Karl has very little vision and did the first 500 miles alone. Learn how he used other senses and tools to compensate as well as what was in his first aid kit.

2409 A Community of Medical Professionals (Feb. 28, 2024)


2409 A Community of Medical Professionals (Feb. 28, 2024)


Show Notes

Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Andrea Lendaris, Bo (Kevin) Barley, and Silpa Tadavarthy about their experiences as visually impaired medical professionals and the impact that the Disability in Medical Mutual Mentorship Program (DM3P) has made in their training and careers. They discuss the community built by DM3P and the support it provides.

2408 The Disability in Medicine Mutual Mentorship Program (Feb. 21, 2024)


2408 The Disability in Medicine Mutual Mentorship Program (Feb. 21, 2024)


Show Notes

The Disability in Medicine Mutual Mentorship Program (DM3P) is a grassroots organization that supports disabled healthcare professionals and trainees as they navigate the field of medicine. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with members Erin Jarrell and Suchita Rastogi about why and how the organization was formed and how its members benefit each other.

2407 Biped – The Smart Mobility Aid (Feb. 14, 2024)


2407 Biped – The Smart Mobility Aid (Feb. 14, 2024)


Show Notes

Now the technology used in self-driving cars comes to a smart harness worn by the blind to warn of obstacles and assist navigating using a combination of GPS and audio feedback. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with co-founder and CEO Maël Fabien about the development of the Biped device, the technology behind it, and how it works.

2406 From Science to Linguistics to Both (Feb. 7, 2024)


2406 From Science to Linguistics to Both (Feb. 7, 2024)


Show Notes

Sheri Wells-Jensen wanted to be a scientist when she was young. Unfortunately, being blind as well as female she was discouraged from pursuing such a career by those around her. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Sheri, now an Associate Professor of Linguistics, about her journey and how she was able to merge science into her career.

2405 Making Space Exploration Accessible (Jan. 31, 2024)


2405 Making Space Exploration Accessible (Jan. 31, 2024)


Show Notes

Sheri Wells-Jensen is a fully blind Associate Professor of Linguistics at Bowling Green State University who spent six days with four crew members in a hermetically sealed habitat at Biosphere 2, learning about what it would be like living on Mars or the Moon. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Sheri about the experience and what was learned.

2403 Echo Heart Rate App for iOS (Jan. 17, 2024)


2403 Echo Heart Rate App for iOS (Jan. 17, 2024)


Show Notes

Using Voiceover to monitor one’s heart rate while running on a noisy treadmill wearing an Apple Watch and noise cancelling AirPods is difficult. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Alex Weiner, developer at PK Fitness, about how he added Siri commands to provide on demand speech feedback in their Echo Heart Rate app, as well as about their Fat Burn app.

2402 Meet the Host – Nancy Goodman Torpey (Jan. 10, 2024)


2402 Meet the Host – Nancy Goodman Torpey (Jan. 10, 2024)


Show Notes

The microphone is turned around on Nancy Torpey this week when she is interviewed by Glen Gordon, Software Fellow at Freedom Scientific and host of the FSCast podcast. In this episode you’ll learn how Nancy became interested in science, how she and Peter met, her education and career as a female scientist in a male dominated profession, and more.

2401 Meet the Host – Peter Torpey (Jan. 3, 2024)


2401 Meet the Host – Peter Torpey (Jan. 3, 2024)


Show Notes

Late last year, Glen Gordon, Software Fellow at Freedom Scientific and host of the FSCast podcast, interviewed Peter Torpey about his life and career as a blind scientist. In these excerpts from the FSCast episode you’ll learn how Peter became interested in science, how he and Nancy met, about his work in image science at Xerox, and more.

2352 Turning the Tables on the Torpey’s (Dec. 27, 2023)


2352 Turning the Tables on the Torpey’s (Dec. 27, 2023)


Show Notes

Capping off the 13th year of Eyes On Success, Sam Jasmine, host of the Disability and Progress podcast, interviews hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey about their show. You’ll learn how Eyes On Success got started, the mission of the show, how it evolved over the years, how guests are selected, and what the show has come to mean for the Torpey’s.

2351 Foresight Adventure Guides for the Blind (Dec. 20, 2023)


2351 Foresight Adventure Guides for the Blind (Dec. 20, 2023)


Show Notes

Foresight provides accessible and affordable outdoor recreation like skiing and snowboarding for individuals with blindness or low vision, promoting fun, safety, and independence. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with board member and guide Bill Murphy, board member and participant Kevin Foster, and blind skier Claire Schultz about the program and their experiences.

2350 Uber – Making Movement Equal for All (Dec. 13, 2023)



2350 Uber – Making Movement Equal for All (Dec. 13, 2023)



Show Notes


Visually impaired people making use of a ride sharing service may have unique concerns such as the accessibility of the service, safety, accommodations for a guide dog, etc. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Briana Gilmore and Chris Yoon from Uber about how Uber addresses these concerns through its commitment to providing equal access to movement.

2349 Beyond Human Eyesight – AI and Visual Assistance (Dec. 6, 2023)


2349 Beyond Human Eyesight – AI and Visual Assistance (Dec. 6, 2023)


Show Notes

The Be My Eyes app now offers users their choice of whether to work with a sighted volunteer, an AI bot, or specific people in their own group of friends and family. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder and CEO Hans Jørgen Wiberg about the various options as well as recent privacy issues around facial description and recognition.

2348 Raising Awareness One Video at a Time (Nov. 29, 2023)


2348 Raising Awareness One Video at a Time (Nov. 29, 2023)


Show Notes

Lucy Edwards is a blind broadcaster, content creator, and disability activist living in the UK. One of her goals is to change how people see blindness. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lucy about what motivated her to start her social media presence, how it led to a position with the BBC, and why she says she has her dream job.

2347 iOS Access for All for iOS 17 (Nov. 22, 2023)


2347 iOS Access for All for iOS 17 (Nov. 22, 2023)


Show Notes

Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Shelly Brisbin, author of “iOS Access for All: Your Comprehensive Guide to Accessibility for iPhone and iPad”, about this valuable reference guide. Shelly discusses what can be found in the book and highlights features of interest including Point To Speak, customizing Voiceover voices, Personal Voice, and more.

2346 Desmos Tools for Mathematics (Nov. 15, 2023)


2346 Desmos Tools for Mathematics (Nov. 15, 2023)


Show Notes

Desmos Studios offers a variety of accessible software tools for working with mathematics including scientific and graphing calculators, a matrix calculator, and a new 3-D calculator. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Accessibility Specialist Stephen Clower from Desmos about how they came to make these tools accessible and about how they work.

2345 Tutorials for Using Band-in-a-Box with JAWS (Nov. 8, 2023)


2345 Tutorials for Using Band-in-a-Box with JAWS (Nov. 8, 2023)


Show Notes

Band-in-a-Box is a program that can be used to create complete professional arrangements of songs in almost any style by just typing in chords. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Gudrun Brunot about the tutorials she and Roy Robinson developed to help users navigate the myriad of features and enable them to effectively use the program with special JAWS scripts.

2344 Encore of 2020 Band-in-a-Box and the Updated JAWS Scripts (Nov. 1, 2023)


2344 Encore of 2020 Band-in-a-Box and the Updated JAWS Scripts (Nov. 1, 2023)


Show Notes

Band-in-a-Box from PG Music continues to evolve and introduce new features that are appealing to both professional and amateur musicians alike. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tobin Frank, chief development officer at PG Music, about the program and how the scripts Peter developed make this program accessible with the JAWS screen reader.

2343 Skateboarding with a Pop, Grind, and Flip (Oct. 25, 2023)


2343 Skateboarding with a Pop, Grind, and Flip (Oct. 25, 2023)


Show Notes

Justin Bishop was fully sighted when he started skateboarding at 10 years old. Despite losing all of his useful sight in his 20’s, Justin’s dedication to skateboarding has been unwavering. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Justin about his passion for skateboarding and what accommodations he makes to enable him to excel at this active sport.

2342 Timecrest Fantasy Game for iOS (Oct. 18, 2023)


2342 Timecrest Fantasy Game for iOS (Oct. 18, 2023)


Show Notes

Jump Into the World of Fantasy with Timecrest. Get a chance to turn back time and save the world as the main character in the Timecrest fantasy game from Sneaky Crab. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Justin Ng, who co-founded Sneaky Crab with Lisa Gu, about how they made the game accessible with Voiceover and received an AppleVis Golden Apple award for Developer of the Year.

2341 Apple Accessibility – Making Tech For Everyone (Oct. 11, 2023)


2341 Apple Accessibility – Making Tech For Everyone (Oct. 11, 2023)


Show Notes

Apple works to make their products accessible to everyone by supporting vision, hearing, speech, motor, and cognitive disabilities in all of their devices. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dean Hudson, an Accessibility Evangelist at Apple, about the range of accessibility features including the newly announced “Live Speech” feature and Personalized Voices.

2339 Accessibility of Amazon Products (Sep. 27, 2023)


2339 Accessibility of Amazon Products (Sep. 27, 2023)


Show Notes

Amazon is dedicated to making their devices and services not only user friendly but also accessible to everyone no matter what their individual challenges might be. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Peter Korn, director of accessibility for Amazon’s devices and services business, about how their design philosophy enhances the experience for all.

2338 The Tech Toolbox from Orbit Research (Sep. 20, 2023)


2338 The Tech Toolbox from Orbit Research (Sep. 20, 2023)


Show Notes

Orbit Research carries a wide variety of products suitable for students, professionals, and home use. These range from talking and graphics calculators to multi-line and graphical braille displays, to low vision magnifiers to braille computers. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Venkatesh Chari, President and CEO of Orbit Research, about their many offerings.

2337 Joining the ACB Community (Sep. 13, 2023)


2337 Joining the ACB Community (Sep. 13, 2023)


Show Notes

People with visual impairments may experience geographical and/or social isolation. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Cindy Hollis, Manager of Membership Engagement for the American Council of the Blind (ACB) about the many virtual community events that they host aimed at bringing people with a wide range of interests from around the world together.

2336 See the World the Way You Want with the ReBokeh App (Sep. 6, 2023)


2336 See the World the Way You Want with the ReBokeh App (Sep. 6, 2023)


Show Notes

Rebecca Rosenberg felt that none of the built-in accessibility features in her smart phone were designed to address her particular needs and vision disorder so she got to work. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Rebecca about how she started a company that developed an iOS app that helps her and others interact with and see the “real world”.

2334 Going Beyond the Words in Documents and Presentations (Aug. 23, 2023)


2334 Going Beyond the Words in Documents and Presentations (Aug. 23, 2023)


Show Notes

Creating impactful documents and presentations is important for connecting with sighted individuals in all walks of life. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy Dixon about her latest books, “Designing Documents for Appearance” and “The Power of PowerPoint”, that give tips on how those who are visually impaired can produce such material.

2333 The Sky Is the Limit – A Skydiving Adventure (Aug. 16, 2023)


2333 The Sky Is the Limit – A Skydiving Adventure (Aug. 16, 2023)


Show Notes

Zach Tidwell is a blind military veteran who enjoys a variety of physical activities such as snowboarding, ski biking, mountain biking, rock-climbing, white-water kayaking, jiu-jitsu, rafting, and recently, skydiving. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Zach about skydiving without sight and how it compared to skydiving before he lost his sight.

2332 Cracking the Code of Darkness (Aug. 9, 2023)


2332 Cracking the Code of Darkness (Aug. 9, 2023)


Show Notes

Zach Tidwell was a marine who lost all of his sight in an instant during a period of deep depression. Despite all odds, he quickly adapted to blindness and taught himself to code. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Zach about his incredible journey, the Zanagrams app he created, and his plans to develop future accessible apps for iOS devices.

2331 Encore of 1813 Outtakes from Eyes On Success (Aug. 2, 2023)


2331 Encore of 1813 Outtakes from Eyes On Success (Aug. 2, 2023)


Show Notes

They say that nothing is ever perfect. Fortunately, though, with a little extra work, most mistakes can be fixed. That even applies to the productions of Eyes On Success. Sit back and enjoy some laughs with hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey as they enjoy some Summer fun by sharing some humorous moments that never made it into the show.

2330 Navigating the Transition to Sight Loss (Jul. 26, 2023)


2330 Navigating the Transition to Sight Loss (Jul. 26, 2023)


Show Notes

In his new book “The Country of the Blind: A Memoir At the End of Sight”, author and audio producer Andrew Leland chronicles his slow progression from sightedness to blindness due to Retinitis Pigmentosa. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Andrew about the book, his transition through various stages of sight loss, and what he learned along the way.

2328 Accessibility of Google Android and G Suite (Jul. 12, 2023)


2328 Accessibility of Google Android and G Suite (Jul. 12, 2023)


Show Notes

Google continually introduces new features in their products to make them more accessible for people with disabilities. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jyotsna Kaki, a blind Accessibility Analyst at Google about a number of the latest G Suite and Android OS features, designed to enhance the experience for visually impaired users.

2327 Preparing for Employment with Clusiv (Jul. 5, 2023)


2327 Preparing for Employment with Clusiv (Jul. 5, 2023)


Show Notes

Clusiv offers a screen-reader friendly, on-line training program aimed at providing blind clients with the skills to find meaningful employment. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tamer Zaid, who recently went through the program, about how the program works, the courses he took, and how the skills he learned helped prepare him for the workforce.

2326 The Key to Being a Piano Technician (Jun. 28, 2023)


2326 The Key to Being a Piano Technician (Jun. 28, 2023)


Show Notes

Tuning and repairing pianos is a profession that can be enjoyable and rewarding even if one is blind. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dewald van Deventer, a blind piano technician living in South Africa, about his musical background and training, as well as the ins and outs of his daily work traveling between several neighboring towns.

2324 Woodworking By Touch (Jun. 14, 2023)


2324 Woodworking By Touch (Jun. 14, 2023)


Show Notes

Dave Carlson was introduced to woodworking as a youth, watching and helping his dad in the shop. However, it wasn’t until losing his sight to RP in his 40’s and was inspired to make a toybox for his grandson that he took on this hobby in earnest. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dave about his experiences as a blind woodworker and how it all works.

2323 Be My Eyes Virtual Volunteer (Jun. 7, 2023)


2323 Be My Eyes Virtual Volunteer (Jun. 7, 2023)


Show Notes

Be My Eyes is an app that connects blind individuals and their cameras to sighted volunteers for real-time assistance. Now the power of AI comes to the app with the addition of their “virtual volunteer” option. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder and CEO Hans Jørgen Wiberg about the power of this new feature and how it can be used.

2322 Blazing the Trails with Awarewolf Gear (May 31, 2023)


2322 Blazing the Trails with Awarewolf Gear (May 31, 2023)


Show Notes

Sedona Dave is blind and was tired of people not noticing him when walking around town and crashing into him. He also wanted a better and safer way of hiking the trails around him. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dave about how he solved his problems by starting Awarewolf Gear a journey that was frustrating at times, but rewarding in the end.

2321 Awarewolf Gear All Terrain Cane (May 24, 2023)


2321 Awarewolf Gear All Terrain Cane (May 24, 2023)


Show Notes

The All Terrain Cane (ATC) is a sturdy folding cane designed for blind hikers. Made of lightweight titanium and having an adjustable length, the ATC is suitable for a variety of terrains. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Sedona Dave, founder of Awarewolf Gear, about how he came up with the idea, and the benefits of using it for hiking and other outdoor activities.

2320 Firefox Accessibility Enhancements (May 17, 2023)


2320 Firefox Accessibility Enhancements (May 17, 2023)


Show Notes

Accessibility has always been an important factor in the development of the Mozilla Firefox web browser. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jamie Teh, technical lead for accessibility at the Mozilla Foundation, about recent improvements to both the accessibility and responsiveness of Firefox for those using screen readers as well and how that work is done.


2319 NVDA – A Community Driven Project (May 10, 2023)


2319 NVDA – A Community Driven Project (May 10, 2023)


Show Notes

The NVDA screen reader was first released in 2006 and continues to be used by people around the world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder Michael Curran about the ongoing development efforts of NVDA, including the active community involvement and feedback-driven approach that continue to shape the future of this free and open-source software.


2318 BrailleDoodle Tactile Tablet (May 3, 2023)


2318 BrailleDoodle Tactile Tablet (May 3, 2023)


Show Notes

The BrailleDoodle is an inexpensive refreshable 2-sided tablet for learning Braille and creating tactile images. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with inventor Daniel Lubiner, CEO and founder of TouchPad Pro Foundation which makes the device, about the inspiration for the device, its features, and the role it can play in education and daily life.

2317 Trailblazing for Inclusivity (Apr. 26, 2023)


2317 Trailblazing for Inclusivity (Apr. 26, 2023)


Show Notes

Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Greg Daniels, who has been blind since youth, about his journey of overcoming challenges and achieving success as a computer programmer for over 35 years. Before “inclusion” was popular, Greg’s story exemplifies the power of determination, resilience, and the importance of the support of family, teachers, and employers.

2316 Musical Scores with the Accessible MuseScore 4 (Apr. 19, 2023)


2316 Musical Scores with the Accessible MuseScore 4 (Apr. 19, 2023)


Show Notes

MuseScore is a sophisticated and feature rich program for creating and listening to musical scores. The release of version 4 brings many improvements to accessibility for people using screen readers. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Marc Sabatella, an educator and one of the developers of MuseScore, about this free, open source application.

2315 The Beat Goes On – The Life of a Blind Music Producer (Apr. 12, 2023)


2315 The Beat Goes On – The Life of a Blind Music Producer (Apr. 12, 2023)


Show Notes

Scott Chesworth is a blind music producer who also offers mixing and mastering services for his clients. He can often be found tutoring and training others. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Scott about his journey into music, his passion for working with others and his commitment to making music accessible for people with disabilities.

2314 Memoirs of a Guide Dog (Apr. 5, 2023)


2314 Memoirs of a Guide Dog (Apr. 5, 2023)


Show Notes

Mark Carlson is familiar with blindness as it runs in his family. He has come to view his lack of sight as second nature and approaches life with a positive outlook and sense of humor. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mark about his life and the books he has written about his guide dogs as well as his other passion, military strategy.

2313 Innovations from the DAISY Consortium (Mar. 29, 2023)


2313 Innovations from the DAISY Consortium (Mar. 29, 2023)


Show Notes

The DAISY Consortium is an international organization that aims to improve access to information for people with print disabilities around the world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with George Kerscher and Richard Orme about their impact on e-pub standards and their latest work to reach more people in underdeveloped countries.

2312 Braille Ignition Kits from NBP (Mar. 22, 2023)


2312 Braille Ignition Kits from NBP (Mar. 22, 2023)


Show Notes

The National Braille Press produces a variety of braille books and manuals for all ages and interests. Now they have released a set of resource kits developed specifically for teachers of the visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kesel Wilson, editorial director at the NBP, about what is in these resource kits and how they can be used effectively.

2311 Victor Reader Stream 3 (Mar. 15, 2023)


2311 Victor Reader Stream 3 (Mar. 15, 2023)


Show Notes

The popular Victor Reader Stream from Humanware has recently been updated with an improved design and new features. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mathieu Paquette, Product Manager of Victor Reader products, and Peter Tucic, Director of Strategic Partnerships, about this accessible palm-sized multimedia device and why you might enjoy using it.

2310 The Blind Kitchen (Mar. 8, 2023)


2310 The Blind Kitchen (Mar. 8, 2023)


Show Notes

Debra Erickson is the executive chef and founder of The Blind Kitchen where adaptive tools, helpful strategies, and specialized knowledge are provided to blind and vision-impaired people who want to cook safely, confidently, and independently. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Debra who shares tips and tools that make working in the kitchen safer and easier.

2309 Eschenbach’s Haus Call Tele-low-vision Program (Mar. 1, 2023)


2309 Eschenbach’s Haus Call Tele-low-vision Program (Mar. 1, 2023)


Show Notes

Although assistive devices can’t improve your vision, they can help you use the vision you do have to perform tasks more easily. Now you can work with a specialist remotely to find the device that’s right for you. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Timothy Gels, director of marketing for Eschenbach Optik of America about their tele-low-vision service.

2308 An Inside Look at Audio Book Narration (Feb. 22, 2023)


2308 An Inside Look at Audio Book Narration (Feb. 22, 2023)


Show Notes

Listening to audio books has become a very popular way of reading. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Hillary Huber, a voice actress who has narrated over 700 audio books for both blind and sighted listeners, about how audio books are made, the challenges faced by narrators, and what makes her job fun and rewarding. There’s more to it than you’d expect.

2307 The Path to Employment with NSITE (Feb. 15, 2023)


2307 The Path to Employment with NSITE (Feb. 15, 2023)


Show Notes

NSITE is an organization that trains, prepares, and helps blind clients obtain employment. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Matthew Kehl, a blind job seeker who completed a program through NSITE and obtained a Sourcing Specialist certificate. He shares his experiences with the training and support from NSITE in helping him secure employment.

2306 Encore of 1831 Rocky Mountain Highs and Lows (Feb. 8, 2023)


2306 Encore of 1831 Rocky Mountain Highs and Lows (Feb. 8, 2023)


Show Notes

Join hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey as they explore their new home state of Colorado in celebration of their 35th anniversary. Follow them as they prepare for their journey, walk trails along raging rivers, hike along narrow ledges hanging on steep canyon walls, and more. You might even learn the true story of Mike the headless chicken!

2305 Orbis Flying Eye Hospital (Feb. 1, 2023)


2305 Orbis Flying Eye Hospital (Feb. 1, 2023)


Show Notes

Vision impairment affects many people around the world. Unfortunately, it is difficult to reach and treat people who live in remote areas. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Maria Montero, an ophthalmologist and assistant director of clinical services of the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital about how their model addresses the problem.

2304 Equipping Beep Baseball Worldwide (Jan. 25, 2023)


2304 Equipping Beep Baseball Worldwide (Jan. 25, 2023)


Show Notes

Learn how beep baseballs are made as well as about the surprising connection between beep baseball and the phone company when hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with John Cruz, lead volunteer for the group that assembles beep baseball equipment, and J Kelly, chapter president of the Colorado Legacy West Pioneers. We’ll also talk about how the game is played.

2303 The View from Inside at Vispero (Jan. 18, 2023)


2303 The View from Inside at Vispero (Jan. 18, 2023)


Show Notes

Ryan Jones has recently stepped up to take on the role of Vice President of Software Products at Vispero following the retirement of Eric Damery who held that position for many years. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ryan about how his long career with Vispero has prepared him for this role and his outlook for the future of accessibility.

2302 JAWS Evolves to Meet Changing Needs (Jan. 11, 2023)


2302 JAWS Evolves to Meet Changing Needs (Jan. 11, 2023)


Show Notes

In this second of a two-part series, we talk about how the JAWS screen reader has had to adapt to advances in computer technology as well as to the evolving requirements of users. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with long time colleagues and friends Ted Henter, Eric Damery, and Glen Gordon as they reminisce about their contributions to accessibility.

2301 Early Days of JAWS (Jan. 4, 2023)


2301 Early Days of JAWS (Jan. 4, 2023)


Show Notes

In this first of a two-part series, we trace the history of the JAWS screen reader and how it has evolved to adapt to advances in technology over the years. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ted Henter, founder of Henter Joyce, Eric Damery, retired vice president of blindness products, and Glen Gordon, lead software developer now at Freedom Scientific.

2252 Hosting and Producing Eyes On Success (Dec. 28, 2022)


2252 Hosting and Producing Eyes On Success (Dec. 28, 2022)


Show Notes

Listeners often want to know more about the hosts and producers of Eyes On Success and how the show works. Well, this week they get to hear excerpts from an interview that Aaron Rockford, host of the Aaron’s Opinion podcast, did with Nancy and Peter Torpey. Enter “eos_show” into the search field on our web site to find more shows about us or the show.

2251 Encore of 1929 Tarot Card Reading (Dec. 21, 2022)


2251 Encore of 1929 Tarot Card Reading (Dec. 21, 2022)


Show Notes

What does the future hold for Eyes On Success? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey find out when they talk with Eden Kizer, a totally blind professional tarot card reader, about the magic of tarot cards, how she became a tarot card reader, and how she turned it into a profitable business that she can do from the comfort of her own home.

2250 Flight for Sight (Dec. 14, 2022)


2250 Flight for Sight (Dec. 14, 2022)


Show Notes

Blind people are capable of doing almost anything they want these days. But would you expect a blind person to be piloting a plane? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kaiya Armstrong, a blind college student, who learned to fly a plane and then flew herself cross country thanks to a program sponsored by the Foundation for Blind Children.

2249 Science Without Sight (Dec. 7, 2022)


2249 Science Without Sight (Dec. 7, 2022)


Show Notes

As many of our listeners know, despite being born blind, co-host of Eyes On Success Peter Torpey enjoyed math and science as a youth and went on to obtain a Ph.D. in Engineering Physics and work as a research scientist at Xerox Corporation. This week Marie Sina of Deutsche Welle talks to Peter about his educational and work experiences in science.

2248 Hello Darkness, My Old Friend (Nov. 30, 2022)


2248 Hello Darkness, My Old Friend (Nov. 30, 2022)


Show Notes

“Hello Darkness, My Old Friend” is the story of a young man who, after losing his eyesight to disease, finds the power to break through the darkness and fulfill his vision for a life of distinguished public service. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with author Sanford Greenberg about his journey and how enduring friendships made a difference in his life.

2247 Training Low Vision Rehabilitation Optometrists (Nov. 23, 2022)


2247 Training Low Vision Rehabilitation Optometrists (Nov. 23, 2022)


Show Notes

People with newly diagnosed vision problems may not get directed to low vision optometrists who can help them adapt to their vision changes. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Richard Jamara and Sarah Hinkley, two editors of a training guide for low vision optometrists, who hope to train more of them and increase awareness of their specialty.

2246 Over Every Hurdle (Nov. 16, 2022)


2246 Over Every Hurdle (Nov. 16, 2022)


Show Notes

“Over Every Hurdle” is the third book in a series whose protagonist suddenly loses her sight and adapts to life as a blind person. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with best-selling author Barbara Hinske and with Julie Rock, Manager, Adult and Transition Services at Foundation for Blind Children about how they interacted to make the series possible.

2245 Waymap Navigation System (Nov. 9, 2022)


2245 Waymap Navigation System (Nov. 9, 2022)


Show Notes

The Waymap app was designed to assist visually impaired people navigate transportation systems in cities around the world. Requiring no signals, the app is accurate down to 1 meter both indoors and outdoors. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with CEO Tom Pey about the motivation for developing the app, how it works, and their plans to expand its use.

2244 Writing a Novel as Therapy (Nov. 2, 2022)


2244 Writing a Novel as Therapy (Nov. 2, 2022)


Show Notes

Some people write for fun or because it is a job. Others have a story they want to share. When Aaron Spelker suddenly lost his sight, he found writing to be both therapeutic as well as a good activity for learning important blindness skills. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Aaron about how writing “The Bubonic Reorder” helped him navigate in a new world.

2243 How to Find Accessible Games (Oct. 26, 2022)


2243 How to Find Accessible Games (Oct. 26, 2022)


Show Notes

If you enjoy gaming on your iOS or other device and are also visually impaired, it is likely that you have experienced the frustration of finding a game that is accessible. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Aaron Spelker, who runs the Mobile Accessible Games (for the Blind) FaceBook group, about his game reviews that can ease the frustration.

Remote Jazz Piano Instruction


2242 Remote Jazz Piano Instruction (Oct. 19, 2022)


Show Notes

Have you always wanted to play the piano but just never got around to it or couldn’t arrange the logistics? If so, then Mark Miller, who does business as the piano web man, has the answer for you. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mark about how his remote piano lessons work for both sighted and visually impaired students alike.

2241 Getting Your Business to the Next Level (Ocr. 12, 2022)


2241 Getting Your Business to the Next Level (Ocr. 12, 2022)


Show Notes

The New Venture Competition awards winning participants cash prizes to help get their new or growing business to the next level. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with long-time organizer Colleen Wunderlich as well as with the 2021 winners of the competition, Bruno D’Avanzo and Jennifer Rhodes, about their experiences with the competition.

2240 NSITE Employment Services (Oct. 5, 2022)


2240 NSITE Employment Services (Oct. 5, 2022)


Show Notes

NSITE provides a full range of training resources, connections with potential employers, as well as internship opportunities for people who are visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Marianne Haegeli, Program Director, NSITE Learning and Leadership, about the organization and how their services might benefit you.

2239 Images from the Webb Telescope (Sep. 28, 2022)


2239 Images from the Webb Telescope (Sep. 28, 2022)


Show Notes

If you can’t see the image, you can still experience it. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Timothy Rhue II, principal informal education specialist, and Claire Blome, Principal Science Writer and author of some of the descriptions, both of the Space Telescope Science Institute, about how images from the James Webb Telescope are being made accessible to everyone.

2238 Encore of 1133 Living with a Blind Person (Sep. 21, 2022)


2238 Encore of 1133 Living with a Blind Person (Sep. 21, 2022)


Show Notes

Most episodes of Eyes On Success center on the experiences of a blind person, whether dealing with technology, employment, travelling or whatever. This week, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey discuss raising and living with a blind person from everybody else’s perspective, including interviews with Pete’s mother, sister, wife, in-laws and children.

2237 Raising a sighted child (Sep. 14, 2022)


2237 Raising a Sighted Child (Sep. 14, 2022)


Show Notes

What is it like to raise a sighted child when one of the parents is blind? That is the question Ron and Denise Miller asked of hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey back in 2015. We talked with the Miller’s about our experiences raising sighted children and aired a show based on the discussion. Now, seven years later, we follow up with Ron to see how it’s been going.

2236 NBP Center for Braille Innovation (Sep. 7, 2022)


2236 NBP Center for Braille Innovation (Sep. 7, 2022)


Show Notes

The National Braille Press (NBP) is well known for its mission of promoting braille literacy and producing a variety of braille books for all ages and interests. Perhaps less well known is their program to advance technologies to produce braille. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Brian MacDonald, President and CEO of NBP, about these efforts.

2235 Pole Dancing for Fitness (Aug. 31, 2022)



2235 Pole Dancing for Fitness (Aug. 31, 2022)



Show Notes


Have you ever considered becoming a pole dancer? Surprisingly, the experience might not be what you would have expected. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lauren Back, a blind pole dancer, who has enjoyed participating in several pole dancing groups and extols the virtues of pole dancing as a means of exercise and socializing with others.

2234 Clusiv e-Learning Platform (Aug. 24, 2022)


2234 Clusiv e-Learning Platform (Aug. 24, 2022)


Show Notes

Clusiv is the world’s first e-learning platform built for and by blind people. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Luke Simianer, CEO and co-founder of Clusiv, about the motivation for starting Clusiv, how it works, and how they are partnering with regional vocational services around the country to train blind people for future employment.

2233 Tribute to Eric Damery (Aug. 17, 2022)


2233 Tribute to Eric Damery (Aug. 17, 2022)


Show Notes

Eric Damery recently announced his retirement as VP of Software Product Management at Vispero / Freedom Scientific. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about his long career in the field of assistive technology and how the marketing and distribution of products for the visually impaired has changed over the years.

2232 Blind Stand-Up Comedian (Aug. 10, 2022)


2232 Blind Stand-Up Comedian (Aug. 10, 2022)


Show Notes

During the day, Todd Blenkhorn is an I.T. specialist who works at the Canadian National Institute of the Blind. After work, however, Todd performs in local comedy clubs in Toronto. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Todd about getting into comedy and how he integrates some of his experiences as a blind person into his acts.

2231 Marine Biology (Aug. 3, 2022)


2231 Marine Biology (Aug. 3, 2022)


Show Notes

Maureen Hayden is completing her PhD in marine biology. With limited vision, she uses a variety of tools to assist her when working in the field, in the lab, as well as to teach. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about how she got interested in the subject, how she does her research and how her results will impact the health of the planet.

2230 Encore of 1907 Prosthetic Eyes and Anaplastology (Jul. 27, 2022)


2230 Encore of 1907 Prosthetic Eyes and Anaplastology (Jul. 27, 2022)


Show Notes

Barbara Spohn-Lillo is the owner and founder of Prosthetic Illusions which develops custom prostheses for various body parts including eyes. Both she and her daughter Chelsea Lillo, with whom she works, are anaplastologists and ocularists. Join hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey as they discuss how these prostheses are made and cared for.

2229 Pet Peeves from Listeners (Jul. 20, 2022)



2229 Pet Peeves from Listeners (Jul. 20, 2022)



Show Notes


Episode #2223 of Eyes On Success featured a variety of pet peeves of a blind person navigating in a world primarily designed for and consisting of sighted people. The show elicited lots of responses from listeners who resonated with what they heard. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey share some of the feedback they received.

2228 Graphical Braille Display and eBRF (Jul. 13, 2022)


2228 Graphical Braille Display and eBRF (Jul. 13, 2022)


Show Notes

Wouldn’t it be nice to have an affordable, 2-D, refreshable Braille display? Soon that may not be just a dream. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Greg Stilson and William Freeman from the American Printing House about the new technology behind the combined text and graphics tactile display they are working on as well as formatting standards for such displays.

2227 Using MathML with JAWS (Jul. 6, 2022)


2227 Using MathML with JAWS (Jul. 6, 2022)


Show Notes

Mathematics has been called the language of science. But how can a visually impaired person read and write complex mathematical expressions that are often written in a 2-D format? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ron Miller, Blindness Technology Products Specialist at Vispero, about how the JAWS screen reader makes this possible with MathML.

2226 National Coding Symposium and STEM Camp (Jun. 29, 2022)


2226 National Coding Symposium and STEM Camp (Jun. 29, 2022)


Show Notes

The fields of computers and STEM offer excellent career opportunities for visually impaired people. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Leanne Grillot, outreach director at the American Printing House, about some of APH’s ongoing programs to inspire interest in these fields, make people aware of the opportunities, and help them connect with mentors.

2225 The Candy in My Pocket (Jun. 22, 2022)


2225 The Candy in My Pocket (Jun. 22, 2022)


Show Notes

Over the years John Robert Wiltgen developed many complications from childhood diabetes including blindness, amputation of a limb, and kidney failure. Despite these setbacks, he soldiered on to become a world-renowned interior designer. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with John about his experiences and his newly released memoir “The Candy In My Pocket”.

2224 Offerings from Independence Science (Jun. 15, 2022)


2224 Offerings from Independence Science (Jun. 15, 2022)


Show Notes

Accessible measurement tools are essential if visually impaired students and professionals are to be full participants in STEM related activities either independently or with their sighted peers. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Michael Hingson and Ashley Neybert, from Independence Science, about the tools and services they offer to meet these needs.

2223 Pet Peeves of a Blind Person (Jun. 8, 2022)


2223 Pet Peeves of a Blind Person (Jun. 8, 2022)


Show Notes

People who are blind have many ways of adapting in a world that consists of primarily sighted people. Sometimes though, being blind can be frustrating, especially when simple changes that could be made to make our lives easier are not made. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk about some of Peter’s pet peeves as a blind person.

2222 Voice Dream Reader for macOS (Jun. 1, 2022)


2222 Voice Dream Reader for macOS (Jun. 1, 2022)


Show Notes

The award-winning Voice Dream Reader app is used by many Voiceover users and others around the world to read and listen to documents in many formats. Originally developed for iOS, this powerful productivity tool now comes to macOS. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with the developer, Winston Chen, about the app, its features, and its development.

2221 Offerings from the National Braille Press (May 25, 2022)


2221 Products and Programs from National Braille Press (May 25, 2022)


Show Notes

No matter what your age, interests, or career, chances are that the National Braille Press offers something for you. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kesel Wilson, editorial director at the NBP, about books the NBP produces in braille and other formats for children, general interest, professionals, and those looking for technical manuals.

2220 Encore of 2102 Access Technology Reminiscences (May 18, 2022)


2220 Encore of 2102 Access Technology Reminiscences (May 18, 2022)


Show Notes

David Bradburn, Vice-President Global Sales at Humanware, has been involved in the access technology field for over 35 years. A lot has changed over that time. Listen in on a conversation between David as a salesman and host Peter Torpey as a user as they reminisce about the evolution of access technology equipment since the early days.

2219 The Hosts as Guests (May 11, 2022)


2219 The Hosts as Guests (May 11, 2022)


Show Notes

Every week Peter and Nancy Torpey interview interesting guests from around the world for their Eyes On Success weekly podcast. This week, however, the tables are turned as Sonia Usatch-Kuhn, host of the North Carolina Radio Reading Services Community Connections podcast, interviews Peter and Nancy about their own lives and careers and show.

2218 Conditions for the Blind in Iran (May 4, 2022)


2218 Conditions for the Blind in Iran (May 4, 2022)


Show Notes

Aliasghar Assadi is a blind teacher of blind and visually impaired students in Iran. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ali about conditions for the blind in Iran including the challenges of acquiring assistive technologies, how legal protections for the disabled are evolving, employment opportunities for the blind, and much more.

2217 Encore of 1715 Audio Book Narrator (Apr. 27, 2022)


2217 Encore of 1715 Audio Book Narrator (Apr. 27, 2022)


Show Notes

You’ve probably heard her voice on a Talking Book from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Martha Harmon Pardee has narrated over 3,000 books for the NLS. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about the process of recording audio books, notable moments in her career, and what else she does as a professional voice artist.

2216 An Advocate For All (Apr. 20, 2022)


2216 An Advocate For All (Apr. 20, 2022)


Show Notes

As President and CEO of the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, Virginia Jacko is committed to ensuring that the blind and visually impaired have equitable access to education, blindness prevention programs, and vision rehabilitation training. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Virginia about her advocacy work and highlights of her career.

A weekly, haf hour radio show / podcast covering a wide variety of topics of interest to the visually impaired