The ADNA Presents

Join Roy Samuelson as he chats with Emmy-winning filmmaker David Grabias about his groundbreaking documentary "Brailled It." Grabias shares his innovative approach to incorporating audio description and working with blind filmmakers, challenging traditional views on cinema.  Learn how this unique project redefines collaboration and creativity in filmmaking, and get an exclusive peek into its premiere at the Slam Dance Film Festival. Don't miss this exciting discussion that poses the thought-provoking question: 'What is blind cinema?' If you like this podcast, please like, subscribe, share, and rate with a review.

What happens when we stop treating audio description as an afterthought, and start treating it as storytelling? In this episode of The ADNA Presents, Roy Samuelson sits down with researcher and accessibility innovator Alison Eardley, whose work reshapes how museums understand inclusion, perception, and the power of narrative. Allison reveals why audio description guides attention, builds emotional journeys, and creates experiences where everyone belongs. SO much more than visuals. She shares how pan-disabled co-creation transforms design, why "neutrality" is a myth, and how a patch of living moss became one of the most compelling examples of inclusive storytelling you've ever heard. Whether you're in film, television, museums, or simply obsessed with great narratives, this conversation will expand how you think about sensory experience-and why AD has the potential to enrich everyone's engagement, not just those who rely on it. It's warm, thoughtful, surprising, and full of perspective shifts you'll carry with you into your next project.

Audio description is crafted, refined, and checked with extraordinary care, with thanks to quality control specialists. On this episode of The ADNA Presents, Roy Samuelson interviews Rebecca Odom, a blind audio description quality control specialist whose expertise ensures that scripts, narration, and final mixes deliver clear, authentic, and emotionally aligned storytelling. She discusses the evolving landscape of AD, the behind-the-scenes work of QC specialists, and how professionals like herself are shaping the future of accessibility in entertainment.

In this special episode of The ADNA Presents, we're doing something different. And deeply personal. Voiceover icon and longtime Television Academy leader Bob Bergen shares his journey advocating for voice actors, opening the doors to inclusion, and why he's endorsing me, Roy Samuelson, for Governor of the Performers Peer Group. If you care about how performers gain recognition, how accessibility reshapes inclusion, or how AI is already impacting our craft? This episode delivers a front-row seat to how real change happens behind the scenes. From fighting for VO membership in the Academy to pushing for audio description performer recognition, Bob's story is a masterclass in advocacy with impact.

What happens when you start teaching for connection? In this conversation with Dr. Tabitha Kenlon, an English professor who teaches students across the world (including in Afghanistan), we explore what it really means to see one another when sight isn't the main channel. Tabitha shares how her experiences with low vision reshaped her classroom, and how vulnerability, curiosity, and access can transform both teaching and storytelling. We talk about authority as a bridge instead of a throne, about "sprinkling" inclusion instead of siloing it, and how risk can become an act of generosity. You'll hear insights that reach far beyond education: from redefining presence to building authentic connection in spaces where visuals fall short. If you've ever wondered what inclusion sounds like in practice, this episode is a masterclass in human-centered connection.

Filmmaker Naomi Ross thought audio description was just an obligation - until it changed the way her whole family watches movies. Join Roy Samuelson as they dive into the power of sound, representation, and what happens when storytelling becomes an invitation instead of a checkbox.

In this final segment of Bridget's interview, Roy Samuelson pulls back the curtain on a years-long campaign to get audio description performers formally recognized by the Television Academy, a move that opens the door for blind professionals to take their rightful place at the table. He shares the staggering 180-degree shift from being told "there's nothing we can do" to a full green light, and reveals what happened behind the scenes to make it possible. Roy and Bridget dive into the emotional labor, strategic advocacy, and sometimes frustrating opacity of accessibility progress, including a powerful reflection on the ADNA's wishlist of shows (and how that list is quietly shrinking thanks to unseen efforts and community pressure). They unpack what makes audio description succeed or fail: from clunky synthetic voices to breathtaking human narration, and explore Roy's vision for "Kevin's Way," a tone that signals to blind audiences that they're in good hands. It's a wide-ranging, emotionally resonant, and eye-opening conversation that challenges how we think about advocacy, allyship, and the evolving role of AI in storytelling. Listen in to hear how change happens, not with one loud speech, but through years of unseen effort, deep collaboration, and a refusal to give up.

A film about blindness that actually gets it right: Roy sits down with Tony Stephens of the American Foundation for the Blind to talk Possibilities, a powerful new doc that reclaims Helen Keller's legacy and centers blind voices, on-screen and behind the scenes. From international buzz to an all-blind audio description team, this episode dives into what it really means to make media that's not just accessible, but authentically inclusive.

What does hitting snooze have to do with solving a 75% unemployment rate for blind professionals? Everything. In this episode, Roy Samuelson sits down with Paul Conley, Executive Director of the TAD Foundation, to explore how possibility becomes action, and how blind talent are rewriting the rules of leadership, confidence, and career success. We cover: Why audio description is more than access - it's opportunity. How the TAD Foundation equips blind students with Fortune 500 skills. The secret mindset shift that turns rejection into rocket fuel. What businesses get wrong about disability employment (and how to fix it). Simple ways you can mentor, hire, and support blind professionals.   If you're ready to stop drifting and start designing a life (and workplace) full of clarity, intention, and impact, this episode is your wake-up call.

In this episode, blind film critic John Stark shares his lifelong passion for movies and how it led him to watch and review over 500 films a year for more than two decades. From his early days reading Entertainment Weekly at age nine and being inspired by Jurassic Park, to becoming a recognized critic on Rotten Tomatoes, Stark explains what fuels his love of cinema and his unique perspective as a blind critic. He talks about founding the Blind Film Critics Society with Alex and Lee, with the goal of building a community of diverse blind and low-vision voices in film criticism-so audiences can hear more than just one "unicorn" perspective. Stark outlines his vision for the next one and five years: increasing representation in critics' organizations, doubling the amount of audio described content on streaming platforms, and shifting the narrative around accessibility from tokenism to true inclusion. The conversation digs into his views on audio description quality, the dangers of over-relying on text-to-speech, and the frustration of studios sitting on existing AD tracks without making them available. Stark also discusses the tension of being a critic in a small field-where honest reviews can sometimes clash with the companies he wants to support. Through it all, his message is clear: blind and low-vision audiences deserve full access to film, and blind critics deserve a seat at the table in shaping cultural conversations about cinema.

Studios hate him. A blind film critic dropped one review on Rotten Tomatoes and suddenly producers are begging him to reconsider… and he might, if they add audio description in film. That's power. That's disruption. That's John Stark. He launched the Blind Film Critic Society with Alex & Lee (because if the Razzies can start in a living room, why can't blind critics start a movement?) He's now a legit Rotten Tomatoes blind critic. And when he posts? Studios listen. Or panic. Sometimes both. He's exposing how credits for audio description accessibility are erased. Writers invisible. Narrators uncredited. Audiences cheated. He's calling BS. And here's the kicker: he's proving exactly how audio description helps blind audiences experience films fully, while showing the industry why ignoring it costs them money, loyalty, and credibility. This episode slaps. It's not just film reviews with audio description; it's a playbook for shaking an entire industry awake.

Tables turned! Bridget Melton sat in the host chair for The ADNA Podcast, grilling me about my new book A Voice Actor's Guide to Audio Description Performance. We dug into privilege, allyship, and why I open the book by addressing the awkward-but-important question: "Why listen to a sighted guy talk about AD?" Bridget appreciated that the book stays laser-focused on performance for film and TV, without wandering into every other AD niche, and we explored how performers and writers can "salsa dance" between script and delivery to keep blind audiences immersed, even when the words are limited. I shared why access to visuals matters for performance, how production ownership of AD could change everything, and the surprising ripple effects of SAG Awards requiring AD on screeners. From deft "dialogue dodging" to scene-shift signaling, from the dream of live, in-production AD collaboration to the reality of working in silos, we covered the craft, the advocacy, and the small-but-mighty ways performers can elevate the work. Bridget's thoughtful questions brought out the heart of why I do this, and why better AD is access as well as honoring the story. Bridget was one of the first to ask to interview me about my book, A Voice Actor's Guide To Audio Description Performance. Follow her at BridgetMelton.com

What does Jiu-Jitsu have to do with digital accessibility? For Jeremy Seda? Everything. In this episode, the North Idaho College IT Accessibility Coordinator shares how his love of storytelling, empathy, and positive reinforcement shapes his fight for inclusion, both in tech and on the mat. With deeply personal stories, a refreshing call for progress over perfection, and game-changing insights into the power of accessible design, Jeremy invites us to rethink what true connection looks like. Oh, and AI-powered audio description pitches? Don't miss this one.

In this episode of The ADNA Presents, accessibility strategist Erin Lucas shares how her career journey took her from art school to government tech, a Chicago startup, and Microsoft, all while shaping a human-centered approach to accessibility.   Erin discusses how familiar voices build trust, and why accessibility is more than compliance. From building relationships with campus disability services to scaling accessibility work at a global tech company, Erin offers honest insights, creative strategies, and stories from behind the scenes. If you're in the field or just curious about accessibility, this conversation blends humor, heart, and practical advice.

What if your voice could be stolen? In Part Two, Dr. Tanusree Sharma reveals the hidden risks behind voice AI: how the same recordings that powered tools like Siri and Alexa are now being cloned, weaponized, and monetized without consent. She introduces PRAC3-a bold new framework blending privacy, reputation, and accountability with traditional consent models-and calls AI leaders to rethink how they handle voice data before trust is lost for good. From creative rights to biometric identity, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone shaping the future of synthetic speech. Join us and explore why voice governance can't wait.

What if audio was your only signal of trust in a digital world saturated with AI?   In this compelling episode of The ADNA Presents, I spoke with Dr. Tanusree Sharma-assistant professor at Penn State and researcher at the intersection of AI, security, and digital authenticity.   We explored how audio description (AD)-originally designed to make media accessible to blind and low vision audiences-is evolving into a critical signal of trust for everyone. From anime to e-learning, from synthetic voice to stolen identity, this conversation dives deep into what it means to create ethical, empathetic, and secure systems in an AI-saturated ecosystem.   Dr. Sharma's insights for AI leaders are clear:   - How to treat audio when developing AI   - What AI system designs should include   - Who to recognize as pioneers in media literacy   If you work in voice tech, AI policy, or digital storytelling, this episode is a must.

What does Jiu-Jitsu have to do with digital accessibility? For Jeremy Seda? Everything. In this episode, the North Idaho College IT Accessibility Coordinator shares how his love of storytelling, empathy, and positive reinforcement shapes his fight for inclusion, both in tech and on the mat. With deeply personal stories, a refreshing call for progress over perfection, and game-changing insights into the power of accessible design, Jeremy invites us to rethink what true connection looks like. Oh, and AI-powered audio description pitches? Don't miss this one.

Featuring Anna Capezzera, Colleen Connor, and Serina Gilbert. This conversation pulls back the curtain on our upcoming Comic-Con panel about audio description. Panelists talk about why they signed on, what matters to them in this work, and what they hope the audience takes away. Each brings a different piece of the puzzle. Colleen trains writers. Anna works behind the scenes on production logistics. Serina ensures quality control at the final stage. Together, they paint a clear picture of what it takes to make audio description accurate, effective, and emotionally engaging, especially in complex worlds like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They also talk about the bigger picture: why this work needs more attention, how decisions about AD get made, and what happens when it's done well, or not at all. If you're curious about how blind audiences experience media, and the people making that possible, this is worth a listen.

In this episode, Roy Samuelson welcomes Yvonne Mastromano, the passionate CEO of Virginia Voice, a nonprofit that's all about making the world more accessible for people who are blind or print disabled. Yvonne speaks from the heart about her deep love of the arts and the power of storytelling, and how audio description opens doors to shared experiences in theaters, museums, sports events, and more. She offers a beautiful look into the nuances of live versus recorded audio description, highlighting the human connection and sense of belonging that live experiences can create. Yvonne also shares exciting initiatives Virginia Voice is launching, from guided nature walks, to rich, pre-show descriptions that help listeners step more fully into the world of performance. But what stands out most is her reminder that this work isn't charity, but community. It's about making sure everyone, regardless of sight or ability, gets to participate in the beauty and complexity of life. Through her words, we're reminded that inclusion isn't an add-on, it's a responsibility we all share. More at VirginiaVoice.org

Expanding Market Reach Through the Power of Disability in the Workplace Mike Hess of Blind Institute of Technology highlights the significance of AD expanding market share for movies and other digital content. He emphasize that the market for people with disabilities is substantial, amounting to trillions globally, and that including AD can attract a larger audience.