The Blind Chick

Episode Summary Country singer-songwriter Sarah Hardwig joins Penn Street and Moses Street for a wide-ranging conversation about music, blindness, ambition, creativity, and what success actually means. Sarah shares how growing up blind with Leber congenital amaurosis never stopped her from developing an early love for country music. From singing Carrie Underwood in the car as a child to recording homemade CDs, performing national anthems, attending CMA Fest, and eventually studying songwriting and music business at Belmont University, Sarah describes a career built through persistence, relationships, and a willingness to keep showing up.  She also reflects on her experience auditioning for America’s Got Talent, where she received four yeses but did not advance to the live shows. Sarah explains why the exposure became valuable in its own right and why she ultimately sees not advancing further as something that may have protected her artistic independence. The conversation goes deeper into performance anxiety, songwriting, learning guitar by feel and ear, her complicated relationship with Braille music, and her belief that blindness should never force an artist into a particular creative lane. Sarah explains that her songs are not about portraying a character. The strength, vulnerability, humor, fear, and determination in them are all different parts of herself.  Sarah also discusses her single “Breaking Away,” which grew from her own struggle with uncertainty and self-doubt as she approached high-school graduation. For Sarah, breaking away means refusing to allow fear and doubt to dictate what happens next. Through conversations about manifestation, fame, Nashville, artistic community, and the uncertainty of a creative career, Sarah keeps returning to one idea: connection matters more than accolades or numbers. Success is not simply being famous. It is finding people who believe in what you do and continuing to pursue something meaningful even when the outcome cannot be controlled.  Credits Hosts: Penn Street and Moses Street Guest: Sarah Hardwig Producer: Jonathan Price Podcast: The Blind Chick Produced by: Aftersight Contact & Follow Sarah Hardwig  Website: sarahardwig.com Facebook, Instagram & TikTok: @sarahhardwigofficial Music: Apple Music, Spotify, and other major streaming platforms The Blind Chick / Aftersight  Website: aftersight.org More podcasts, programming, resources, and services for people who are blind or low vision are available through Aftersight. 

1. Episode SummaryPenn and Moses catch up on a full stretch of life: Penn’s inclusion in Jennifer Chassman Brown’s upcoming book See Us, Know Us: Profiles of Disability, a restorative Buena Vista getaway, Charlotte Hot Springs, a nostalgic drive-in movie night, and Aftersight’s upcoming No Barriers hike.The conversation then turns sharply toward independence and advocacy. Penn shares how Model Mugging self-defense training changed the way she carries herself, including a real-life moment when she protected her young daughter from two much larger men.They close with a practical conversation about medical self-advocacy: bringing another person to appointments when possible, taking notes, asking questions, and making sure concerns are actually heard.It’s a wide-ranging episode about enjoying life, trusting your instincts, using your voice, and refusing to surrender your agency.2. Contact InfoListener feedback / guest ideas: [email protected]: aftersight.orgBook mentioned: See Us, Know Us: Profiles of Disability — Jennifer Chassman BrownSelf-defense program mentioned: Model MuggingTravel resource mentioned: Blind Pilots — founded by Scott Garrison3. Show CreditsShow: The Blind ChickHosts: Penn Street and Moses StreetProducer / Editor: Jonathan PricePresented by: Aftersight4. Chapter Markers00:05 — Welcome and Penn’s big news01:03 — See Us, Know Us: Profiles of Disability04:08 — Portraits, recognition, and being seen06:58 — A Buena Vista glamping getaway08:26 — Charlotte Hot Springs and actually slowing down10:22 — Coyote vs. Acme and drive-in nostalgia17:39 — Reflections on the Grand Canyon flash flood19:45 — The upcoming No Barriers hike and community support23:13 — Model Mugging and why self-defense changes more than fighting26:24 — Penn’s real-world self-defense story: protecting Tate31:59 — Why bringing someone to a medical appointment can matter34:53 — Listener feedback, support, and closing thoughts

1. Episode Summary At 17, Avital “Avi” Drel heard a deceptively simple story: a blind diner could not independently find out what was on a restaurant menu. Instead of treating that as a minor inconvenience, Avi spent hours interviewing blind and low-vision people across the country. Again and again, he heard the same word: independence. In this episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses talk with Avi about Meet My Menu, an AI-powered tool that can locate or scan a restaurant menu, organize it for screen readers, and let a diner explore dishes through a conversational voice agent. They discuss why reading a menu is really about choice, how accessible design often benefits far more people than its original audience, and where the same idea could go next, including conferences, theater programs, and other information that is still too often inaccessible. 2. Contact Info Guest: Avital “Avi” Drel, founder and CEO of Meet My Menu Meet My Menu: https://meetmymenu.com Web app: https://app.meetmymenu.com Avital Drel: https://avitaldrel.com Aftersight: https://aftersight.org 3. Show Credits Show: The Blind Chick Hosts: Penn Street and Moses Street Guest: Avital “Avi” Drel Producer: Jonathan Price Presented by: Aftersight 4. Chapter Markers 00:05 — Welcome to The Blind Chick 01:18 — Aftersight’s annual Colorado hike and sponsors 05:00 — Meet 17-year-old inventor Avital “Avi” Drel 06:49 — The restaurant experience that sparked Meet My Menu 08:24 — What blind diners said they wanted most: independence 09:08 — Learning that blindness is a spectrum 13:09 — Why traditional menu access still falls short 15:12 — Building and refining the first prototypes 16:36 — Searching online or scanning a printed menu 17:56 — Structured screen-reader access and the AI waiter 21:24 — How voice-first menus can help beyond blindness 23:20 — Where to use Meet My Menu 25:50 — From idea to working product in a matter of months 27:28 — Expanding accessible information beyond restaurants 28:23 — What audio description reveals about what is missing 31:00 — Accessible theater programs and conference information 38:10 — The student team behind the project 41:28 — Business, leadership, and building with AI 45:48 — How to find Avi and Meet My Menu 49:09 — Avi’s message: there is always something you can do 54:14 — Closing thoughts 

Episode Summary Penn and Moses are back for a summer catch-up filled with the kind of highs and lows that make life feel like a roller coaster. Between Penn’s health struggles, a packed schedule, concerts, baseball, family time, and plenty of classic Blind Chick humor, there has been no shortage of stories. They share a memorable night with friends Jim and Kathy that included dinner in Denver and a Dodgers–Rockies game. The experience leads to conversations about accessibility, generosity, lifelong baseball memories, and the moments with family and friends that become bigger than the event itself. Penn and Moses also recap dancing through the rain at Red Rocks, seeing Zach Bryan at Empower Field, spending time with their daughters and families, and looking ahead to the upcoming Aftersight hike. Along the way, Moses offers his critique of modern concerts, especially the people who apparently paid admission so they could sing every song louder than the artist. The conversation becomes more serious as Penn talks about a difficult summer of health problems. She and Moses discuss the challenge of navigating multiple specialists who do not always communicate with each other and the exhausting process of trying to get clear answers. Penn also shares an update on her guide dog journey and one very large dream: seeing Andrea Bocelli at Red Rocks and interviewing him for The Blind Chick. Through everything, Penn and Moses end where they often do: with gratitude, perspective, and a reminder to be kind to yourself and find a way to be kind to somebody else. Content Note This episode includes candid discussion of illness, medical care, and navigating the healthcare system, along with mild profanity and adult humor. Contact Information The Blind Chick / Aftersight Website: aftersight.org Email: [email protected] Phone: (720) 712-8856 Listeners can also visit aftersight.org for information about the upcoming Aftersight hike, including registration, volunteering, and sponsorship opportunities. Show Credits Show: The Blind Chick Hosts: Penn Street and Moses Street Producer: Jonathan Price Presented by: Aftersight

Episode SummaryRobert Lamm returns to The Blind Chick several years after his first appearance, and this time Penn and Moses get to look at something rare: what happened after the goals, struggles, and dreams Robert talked about the first time around.Robert has now graduated from Colorado State University, transitioned from an internship into a full-time career with Stantec, and is beginning the next chapter of his engineering career. But the conversation goes much deeper than the degree or the job. Robert talks candidly about more than seven years of sobriety, finding the right recovery community, the transportation barriers that can make community involvement much harder for someone who is blind, and learning that leadership sometimes means knowing when to say no.And, of course, Fletcher is never far from the conversation. Robert reflects on how his guide dog helped change the direction of his life, forced him to slow down and take care of himself, and eventually became part of Robert’s own desire to give back. That has now led Robert into advocacy and public speaking with Leader Dogs for the Blind, including a new role on its alumni board.Near the end, Robert shares an idea that has stayed with him from his time as a CSU Presidential Ambassador: philanthropy is often described through time, talent, and treasure, but there is a fourth “T” — testimony. Sometimes telling the story of what you have lived through is itself a way of giving back.Robert’s challenge is simple: pay attention to where life is leading you, have the courage to act on the opportunities in front of you, find your purpose, and keep doing the right thing.Contact InfoRobert LammEmail: [email protected]: Search for Robert Lamm; his profile features Robert with FletcherFacebook: Robert is also active on FacebookAftersightWebsite: aftersight.orgCreditsShow: The Blind ChickHosts: Penn Street and Moses StreetGuest: Robert LammProducer: Jonathan PriceOperational Company: Aftersight