2544 AI Training Resources for JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion (Oct. 29, 2025)

Show Notes
JAWS, ZoomText and Fusion users can now benefit from AI powered tools like PictureSmart AI and FS Companion that provide image descriptions, label buttons, and help users with commands. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Elizabeth Whitaker from Vispero about the resources and training programs they offer for learning and using these and other tools.

2543 Transforming Accessibility Through Aira with AI (Oct. 22, 2025)

Show Notes
Aira has transformed from a mostly subscription service into a resource that now offers many free services for visually impaired users. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jenine Stanley, Director of Customer Success at Aira about navigating public spaces and how collaborations with Google DeepMind and wearable tech promise better visual interpretation tools.

2542 Business Enterprise Competition for Blind Entrepreneurs (Oct. 15, 2025)

Show Notes
Applications are now open for the 2025 Business Enterprise Competition that supports blind entrepreneurs with scholarships and cash awards. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Colleen Wunderlich of The Chicago Lighthouse about the application process and eligibility requirements, Miami University of Ohio’s mentorship program for winners, and the $25,000 top prize.

2541 CoBrowse AI Agent Makes Web Interactions More Accessible (Oct. 8, 2025)

Show Notes
Now AI can simplify online shopping for people with vision loss. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Patrick Long, co-founder of the accessible InnoSearch AI shopping service, about their new CoBrowse AI agent, which uses interactive voice-controlled commands and reasoning to make e-commerce sites and other online experiences more accessible for everyone.

2540 The Art of Audiobook Narrating (Oct. 1, 2025)

Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with renowned audiobook narrator Scott Brick, the voice behind over 1200 audiobooks you may have enjoyed including many bestsellers. They talk about Scott’s career, the importance of voice care and hydration, his coaching of others who are new in the field, and the potential effects of AI on the industry.

2539 A Lifelong Journey with Assistive Tech as it Evolves (Sep. 24, 2025)

Show Notes
How have assistive technologies evolved for blind users over the decades? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey discuss the variety of assistive technologies Peter used over the years as his vision declined. They talk about the tools he used as a child, student, and scientist, as well as modern devices that he uses in retirement and what may be coming next.

2538 Encore of 1741 Together Again – Leaders Who Made a Difference (part 2 of 2) (Sep. 17, 2025)

Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey continue the conversation with three leaders in the field of assistive technology: Deane Blazie, Jim Fruchterman, and Ted Henter. They made pioneering contributions to the development of refreshable Braille displays, OCR, and screen readers, respectively. Learn about their visions for the future in this informative round table discussion.

2537 Encore of 1740 Together Again – Leaders Who Made a Difference (part 1 of 2 ) (Sep. 10, 2025)

Show Notes
This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey bring together three leaders in the field of assistive technology: Deane Blazie, Jim Fruchterman, and Ted Henter. They made pioneering contributions to the development of refreshable Braille displays, OCR, and screen readers, respectively. Learn what each of them is up to today in this informative round table discussion.

2536 Creating Tech Solutions for Social Good (Sep. 3, 2025)

Show Notes
How can nonprofit tech leaders harness tech and AI to drive accessibility? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jim Fruchterman, founder of Tech Matters, about his journey from Arkenstone to Bookshare and the challenges of funding social enterprises. He shares insights on agile development, inclusive design, and why tech for good matters to the disability community.

2535 Ally Solos Smart Glasses (Aug. 27, 2025)

Show Notes
Artificial Intelligence is opening new doors in accessibility. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Karthik Kannan, co-founder and CTO of Envision, about the new Ally Solos smart glasses and about using QR codes to bring detailed museum descriptions to blind visitors, showing how technology can improve participation in public life for people with vision loss.

2534 From Overseas Friends to Soulmates (Aug. 20, 2025)

Show Notes
How does love blossom across decades and continents? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy and Chris Jones, a blind couple who first met abroad as children, reconnected years later, had a long-distance courtship, and married after a telephone proposal. They share their journey through cross-cultural moves, parenting, and beating the odds together.

2533 Moving On and Moving In (Aug. 13, 2025)

Show Notes
Moving into a new home and community can present unique challenges for blind individuals. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey share tips and suggestions from listeners and talk about choosing accessible communities, mapping unfamiliar spaces, the importance of planning ahead and being organized, as well as about mobility techniques to ensure safety and independence.

2532 Tactile Cubing (Aug. 6, 2025)

Show Notes
How would you solve a Rubik’s Cube if you were blind? Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with Paul Martz, author of the book “Solve It! The only speedsolving guide for blind cubers”. Paul, who is blind, describes how he uses textures, memory skills, and blazing speed to participate in timed challenges against blind as well as sighted participants.

2531 Touring a Music Studio Full of History and Sound (Jul. 30, 2025)

Show Notes
Music technology has changed drastically over the years. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey meet with Park Peters for a tour of his home studio. They discuss the transition from analog equipment like tape decks to powerful digital tools that are more affordable, as well as the wide array of gear that shaped his path as an audio producer.

2530 Sound Engineering By Touch and Ear (Jul. 23, 2025)

Show Notes
How does a blind musician break into professional audio production? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Park Peters, a blind musician and audio engineer, about his journey from early piano lessons to mastering studio production, overcoming inaccessible equipment, and using his deep understanding of music theory to compensate for his lack of vision.

2529 Braille and Tech Work Together to Empower Blind Students (Jul. 16, 2025)

Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jose Manolo Alvarez, a blind professor at the University of Puerto Rico who teaches future educators of the visually impaired and creates tools from hurricane trackers to games to make assistive tech more accessible and engaging for students. He also hosts a Spanish language podcast about technology for the blind.

2527 Living Through Vision Lost and Vision Regained (Jul. 2, 2025)

Show Notes
Becoming blind can be a difficult transition, but how does one adapt after regaining sight? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Beth Pizzarello about losing vision due to RP, adapting to blindness, and undergoing innovative surgery that restored partial sight. They discuss her book ‘Eclipsed’ and her philosophy of embracing life’s changes.

2526 Encore of 1514 Beep Baseball (Jun. 25, 2025)

Show Notes
Beep Baseball is a variant of American baseball that has been adapted to be safe for its blind participants. Hosts Nancy and Pete Torpey speak with Blake Boudreaux and Stephen Guerra of the National Beep Baseball Association about how the game is played, what special equipment is used and the annual World Series of Beep Baseball.

2525 Rebuilding Life After Vision Loss (Jun. 18, 2025)

Show Notes
How does a blind athlete turn adversity into opportunity? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tanner Gers, a Paralympic athlete and founder of AccessAbility Officer, about his journey from life-changing injury to empowering other blind individuals through employment, digital access, and inclusive athletics like beep baseball.

2524 Pathways to Employment in Digital Accessibility (Jun. 11, 2025)

Show Notes
How can visually impaired individuals access meaningful careers in digital accessibility? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tanner Gers, CEO of AccessAbility Officer, about their training program that certifies blind professionals, providing them with real-world skills, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities in digital accessibility testing.

2523 Adapting to Combined Hearing and Vision Loss (Jun. 4, 2025)

Show Notes
How can individuals with both vision and hearing loss navigate daily life? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with author Deborah Kendrick about her book “When Your Ears Can’t Help You See: Strategies for Blind and Low Vision Individuals with Hearing Loss”. She shares personal experiences with hearing aids, apps, and finding supportive audiologists.

2522 Join the Insert J Club as JAWS Turns 30 (May 28, 2025)

Show Notes
The JAWS screen reader for Windows is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Elizabeth Whitaker about Freedom Scientific’s education initiatives, training resources, and new AI-powered FS Companion. They also introduce the new Insert J Club, a community for users to communicate and to access exclusive content and support.

2521 Advancing Treatments for Inherited Retinal Diseases (May 21, 2025)

Show Notes
Research is key to fighting blinding eye diseases. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jason Menzo, CEO of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, about advancing treatments for inherited retinal diseases, funding research initiatives, and launching new mental health resources to support individuals with blindness and low vision.

2520 Accessible Devices Change Diabetes Care (May 14, 2025)

Show Notes
How do visually impaired individuals manage diabetes independently? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Veronica Elsea and Patricia Maddix about accessible insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and their advocacy work for non-visual medical tools. Both women share their personal journeys navigating diabetes care as blind individuals.

2519 From Braille Music to the Big Screen (May 7, 2025)

Show Notes
Rod Clemmons, who has been blind since birth, shares his journey from being a classically trained pianist to an R&B performer, producer and composer. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Rod about his experiences as a visually impaired musician, his passion for rhythm and blues, and his work scoring the upcoming film ‘A Jeannie for Christmas’.

2516 Dinner Delivered (Apr. 16, 2025)

Show Notes
“Dinner Delivered” is a guide for visually impaired individuals on using grocery and meal delivery services. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kim Loftis Nova, who co-authored the book with Chris Grabowski Nova, about navigating platforms like Instacart, Shipt, and DoorDash. Kim shares her experiences using these services as well as practical tips for using them.

2513 Arizona Vacation with PiccyBot and Be My Eyes (Mar. 26, 2025)

Show Notes
Experience the vivid landscapes of Arizona as enhanced by detailed descriptions by AI. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey used various AI services like PiccyBot and Be My Eyes to describe their adventures in the Sonoran Desert, the Phoenix Botanical Garden, Sedona’s trails, and more. Explore how technology can enhance the visually impaired’s experience of nature.

2511 Encore of 2201 The Dream Of A Lifetime (Mar. 12, 2025)

Show Notes
The MacArthur Fellowship is a $625,000, no-strings-attached award to extraordinarily talented and creative individuals as an investment in their potential. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Josh Miele, blind since childhood and one of the 2021 fellows, about how his work in the field of accessibility led to him receiving this special award.

2510 Connecting Dots – A Blind Life (Mar. 5, 2025)

Show Notes
Joshua Miele is a MacArthur Award-winning accessibility expert who became blind at age 4. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about his new memoir “Connecting Dots – A Blind Life”, his experiences at UC Berkeley and how he came to work in accessibility, his shift from using a guide dog to a cane and how he hopes his book will reshape views on blindness.

2509 Sedona Dave and His Awarewolf Gear Cane Lab (Feb. 26, 2025)

Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey’s Arizona vacation took an unexpected turn when Pete’s All Terrain Hiking Cane needed repair. Fortunately, Sedona Dave, designer of the cane, lived just a few minutes from their hotel. Inviting them into his “Cane Lab”, Dave not only repaired the cane, but also described the various canes offered by Awarewolf Gear.

2508 Biped Offers Enhanced Functionality with NOA (Feb. 19, 2025)

Show Notes
The original Biped navigation device has been upgraded and renamed NOA. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mael Fabien, co-founder and CEO of Biped AI, about NOA, a wearable AI device offering obstacle detection, navigation feedback, and real-time scene descriptions. They discuss the vest’s design, how it works, and the latest upgrades.

2505 A Crash Course in Confidence (Jan. 29, 2025)

Show Notes
Want to kick start your progress to independence? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kurt Deichmann and Brian Clark of First Aid for the Blind about their innovative training program. The week-long remote sessions teach life-changing skills and provide vital tools to newly blind individuals, helping them quickly regain confidence and independence.

2504 Checkmate – Anyone Can Play Chess (Jan. 22, 2025)

Show Notes
Playing chess with vision loss? Why not! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Glenn Crawford, Rita Crawford, and Marilyn Bland from the United States Blind Chess Association (USBCA). They discuss special equipment, correspondence games, and the challenges and rewards of the game. Learn about the USBCA’s resources and outreach programs.

2503 Building Skills and Breaking Stigmas (Jan. 15, 2025)

Show Notes
The Blind Institute of Technology (BIT) empowers people with disabilities through skill development, training, and career placement. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kristy Schenderlein, Director of Operations at BIT, about their innovative programs, funding model, and the critical role of assistive technology in workplace success.

2502 Encore of 1404 Life as the Partner of a Blind Person (Jan. 8, 2025)

Show Notes
Eyes On Success usually focuses on products, services and daily living stories for and about people with vision loss. This week’s episode covers what it’s like for a sighted partner of a blind person. We’ve been married for 41 years and he’s been blind since long before that. Nancy continues to learn what’s special about life with Pete.

2501 Blind Not Broken – From the Other Side (Jan. 1, 2025)

Show Notes
Lucy Edwards went suddenly blind just months into her relationship with Ollie Edwards-Cave when they were both in their teens. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ollie about how he stood by her and supported her through years of struggles and depression. We also talk about Lucy’s book “Blind Not Broken” that details their experiences.