Rephonic
Artwork for Blind Abilities

Blind Abilities

Blind Abilities Team
Assistive Technology
State Services For the Blind
Mental Health
Blindness
Self-Care
Accessibility
Aira
Education
Braille
Visual Impairment
Independence
Wellness
Self-Advocacy
University Of Minnesota
National Federation Of the Blind
Career Exploration
Orientation and Mobility
Anxiety
Grief
Scholarships

The most comprehensive resource for Assistive Technology, success Stories, College and Career Pathways and all with a Blindness Perspective.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes897Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToEducationSelf-Improvement

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Blind Abilities

Latest Episodes

What can happen when you say yes to something new? University of Minnesota engineering student Samantha "Sam" Betts shares how stepping onto the ice with Minnesota Blind Hockey opened the door to competition, confidence and community. Born with conge... more

What does a career path really look like? At the Career Exploration Adventure Weekend at Cragun's Resort in Brainerd, Minnesota, blind, visually impaired, and DeafBlind students got the chance to ask working professionals the questions that matter wh... more

Sometimes the hardest person to give credit to is ourselves. We can become so focused on where we're going—or where we think we should be—that we overlook just how far we've already come.

In this Wellness Wednesday conversation, Robin, Beth and Jef... more

What happens when career exploration meets lakeside adventure? At State Services for the Blind's first Career Exploration Adventure Weekend at Cragun's Resort, blind, low-vision, and DeafBlind students from across Minnesota discovered possibilities, ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

That Real Blind Tech Show
That Real Blind Tech ShowBrian Fischler, Ed Plumacher, and Allison Meloy
Mystic Access Podcast
Mystic Access PodcastChris Nova, Kim Nova
Access On
Access OnNational Federation of the Blind
Double Tap
Double TapSteven Scott, Shaun Preece, Steven Scott, Shaun Preece
Eyes On Success with hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey
Eyes On Success with hosts Peter and Nancy TorpeyEyes On Success with hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey

Recent Guests

Samantha Betts
Blind hockey player for Minnesota Blind Hockey and University of Minnesota student
Minnesota Blind Hockey; University of Minnesota
Episode: From First Practice to First Goal: Sam Betts Takes on College and Blind Hockey
Randi Lasher
Transition work opportunities navigator at State Services for the Blind
State Services for the Blind
Episode: Explore, Connect and Grow: Students Discover Career Possibilities at Cragun's Resort
Robin Ennis
Conversation participant (guest)
Episode: The Slow Process of Acceptance: Vision Loss, Aging and Moving Forward
Jeff Thompson
Conversation participant (guest)
Episode: The Slow Process of Acceptance: Vision Loss, Aging and Moving Forward
Beth Gustin
Conversation participant (guest)
Episode: The Slow Process of Acceptance: Vision Loss, Aging and Moving Forward
Liam DeSantis
Volunteer coordinator at Every Meal
Every Meal
Episode: 15,000 Meals, One Big Impact: SSB Pre-ETS Students Give Back
Shane DeSantis
Transition coordinator at State Services for the Blind
State Services for the Blind
Episode: 15,000 Meals, One Big Impact: SSB Pre-ETS Students Give Back
Dawson Haag
Sports management student at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
Episode: From College to the Ballpark: Building a Career Through Internships and Initiative
Sree Roy
Guest on this episode (co-host role in discussion)
Blind Abilities
Episode: Blind Abilities: Little Steps, Big Triumphs

Host

Jeffrey Thompson
Host of Blind Abilities, with long-running involvement in the show; primary host with ties to Blind Abilities

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 64 ratings
  • better audio quality would be appreciated

    I look forward to Wellness Wednesday dropping in my podcast feed. However, the audio quality is not the best. My review would be five stars if that could be remedied. I am sure, being blind yourselves, you recognize the importance of quality audio. Thanks for listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Callucin
    United Statesa month ago
  • Audio and Content is Awesome!

    I really like how you have changed over the years to adjust to the needs of the community. There’s a little something for everyone. And I like how it’s not just a “Tech show“ as 95% of us live life more than play with gadgets. Keep on keeping on.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VirdieTweeTwee
    United States6 months ago
  • Unrecognizable

    I'm suffering whiplash. I feel blind abilities just does not know what it wants to be. There was once blind abilities, tech abilities, wellness Wednesday, the blind drive and announce some musical??? It's all nonsensical. Please pick a lane and drive it. The blindness community, as you know is very niche. So when there are episodes specifically geared towards Minnesota state services for the blind, you are disenfranchising most of your listeners. And with no consistent release schedule, this pod... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Callucin
    United States9 months ago
  • Good format, entertaining people, and useful information. Entertaining and interesting even when I don't plan on using a particular product.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Andy M
    2 years ago
  • So grateful!

    I lost my vision roughly 4 years ago and thought I had lost almost everything. almost every episode of this show. Someone is interviewed that opens one of those things back up to me! I cannot thank the creator of this show enough!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ViciousToaster
    Canada2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some feedback notes variable episode pacing and occasional topic shifts.
Fans value the focus on independence and community support for blind and low-vision audiences.
Listeners praise practical, actionable accessibility tips and inspiration.
Many appreciate diverse guest backgrounds and real-world career insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#115
United States/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#16
Colombia/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#114
India/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#133
Sweden/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#193
Israel/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From First Practice to First Goal: Sam Betts Takes on College and Blind Hockey
Q: What role has State Services for the Blind played in her college experience?
They helped with transitioning to college, coordinating with the Disability Resource Center for accessible testing, procuring assistive technology, and financing college, which reduced anxiety around academics and costs.
From First Practice to First Goal: Sam Betts Takes on College and Blind Hockey
Q: How did Sam first get involved in blind hockey and what was that experience like?
She was encouraged by Nick Hadfield to try hockey, joined a first practice, and quickly fell in love with the sport despite initial intimidation from an older, male-dominated environment; the social and community aspects helped sustain her involvement.
From First Practice to First Goal: Sam Betts Takes on College and Blind Hockey
Q: What led Sam to pursue mechanical engineering over other fields?
She was always into math and science, wanted a job beyond a desk, and found engineering appealing because it could combine biomedical interests, prosthetics, and broader infrastructure ideas without committing to a narrow path.
Explore, Connect and Grow: Students Discover Career Possibilities at Cragun's Resort
Q: Tell us where you are on your educational journey and what your career goals are.
Sophia describes being a junior studying social work with a goal to work in a hospital setting, dealing with patients about to be discharged, showcasing how the weekend influenced her planning and internships.
From College to the Ballpark: Building a Career Through Internships and Initiative
Q: What advice would you give to other students pursuing internships in sports?
He stresses building a LinkedIn profile and using Teamwork Online to target sports internships, as well as leveraging Indeed and personal networks to hear about opportunities and apply proactively.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Blind Abilities

What is Blind Abilities about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show consistently centers on accessibility tech, practical independence, and career pathways for blind and low-vision individuals. Episodes span hands-on demonstrations of assistive tools (screen readers, AI assistants, VR tech), vocational rehabilitation, education, and family life with blindness. A standout thread is the emphasis on real-world skills—internships, job preparation, and adaptive strategies—often illustrated through guest experiences in schools, state services, and technology sectors. A notable strength is the breadth of guests, from VR technicians and AI program developers to care providers and parents, all contributing actionable insights for listeners pursuing independence or considering guest opportunities.

Unique a... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Blind Abilities?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Blind Abilities. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Blind Abilities and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Blind Abilities get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Blind Abilities, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Blind Abilities?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Blind Abilities, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Blind Abilities have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Blind Abilities has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Blind Abilities?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Blind Abilities:

1. That Real Blind Tech Show
2. Mystic Access Podcast
3. Access On
4. Double Tap
5. Eyes On Success with hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey

How many episodes of Blind Abilities are there?

Blind Abilities launched 12 years ago and published 897 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Blind Abilities?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Blind Abilities?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Blind Abilities from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Blind Abilities?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Blind Abilities. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Blind Abilities?

Recent guests on Blind Abilities include:

1. Samantha Betts
2. Randi Lasher
3. Robin Ennis
4. Jeff Thompson
5. Beth Gustin
6. Liam DeSantis
7. Shane DeSantis
8. Dawson Haag

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days