Episode Summary

In this personal three-year reflection, Evan Starnes steps away from the usual tech-heavy format to look back on the journey of Blind Level Tech since its launch in March 2023. He shares how his time at the Colorado Center for the Blind and his early internship at Aftersight helped shape his confidence, skills, and voice as both an audio producer and host.

Evan walks listeners through the evolution of Aftersight’s podcasting world, from the early days of Community Conversations to the creation of Blind Level Tech alongside producer Jonathan Price. He reflects on the guests, co-hosts, spin-off ideas, and creative risks that helped BLT find its identity as a show that makes technology approachable for both lifelong blind listeners and those newer to vision loss.

The episode also opens up a more vulnerable side of the work behind the mic. Evan speaks candidly about the pressure of trying to represent the blind and low-vision community well, the perfectionism that can come with creativity, and the personal struggles that have shaped the show’s highs and lows. It is an honest, human check-in on what it takes to keep building something meaningful week after week.

Looking ahead, Evan shares his hopes for the future of Blind Level Tech, including more demos, more guests, Throwback Thursdays, continued BLT Bites, and a stronger creative rhythm after Aftersight’s current platform transition. Through it all, his goal remains the same: to make BLT a welcoming, informative, and distinctly human space for the blind and low-vision community.

Contact Info

Organization: Aftersight
Website: Aftersight.org
Feedback Email: feedback@aftersight.org
Listener Voicemail: (720) 712-8856

Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast Producer, Aftersight

Show Credits

Show: Blind Level Tech
Host: Evan Starnes
Producer: Jonathan Price
Network: Aftersight Originals

• (00:02) - — Evan marks three years of Blind Level Tech
• (02:47) - — Life before BLT and training at the Colorado Center for the Blind
• (04:51) - — Evan’s Aftersight internship and the early podcasting days
• (07:18) - — Community Conversations, Penn Street, and Aftersight’s podcast growth
• (09:35) - — Jonathan Price joins Aftersight and BLT is born
• (11:59) - — The inspiration behind the show and building its sound
• (16:58) - — The vision for BLT: making tech approachable for everyone
• (19:23) - — Memorable guests, co-hosts, and lessons from hosting
• (24:17) - — Personal pressure, perfectionism, and the human side of podcasting
• (26:14) - — What’s next for BLT: more demos, more guests, more growth
• (31:03) - — Closing thanks and an invitation for listener feedback

1) Episode Summary

Evan Starnes opens this shorter solo episode with a quick update on Aftersight’s major platform transition and shares his excitement about getting back to creating more original content for Blind Level Tech. He introduces a new upcoming Thursday mini-series focused on vintage and retro assistive and consumer technology, giving listeners a fun “trip down memory lane” format that will be more relaxed and demo-driven.

The main focus of the episode is a broad overview of the latest Apple product releases and what matters most for blind and low-vision users. Evan walks through the newly announced products, highlights accessibility-relevant features, and frames the conversation around practical use rather than deep technical specs. He discusses the value of these devices for students, everyday users, and those looking to upgrade from older Apple hardware.

He also gives his take on the new iPhone and Mac lineup from the perspective of real-world accessibility, including MagSafe, storage, performance, camera practicality, and how useful certain “Pro” features may or may not be for blind users. The episode closes with an invitation for listener feedback and a reminder that more tech-focused content is on the way as the transition work settles down.

2) Contact Info

Aftersight Contact Info
Aftersight
Email: feedback@aftersight.org
Phone: (720) 712-8856
Website: Aftersight.org

Producer Credit
Produced by Jonathan Price

3) Show Credits

Show: Blind Level Tech
Host: Evan Starnes
Producer: Jonathan Price
Organization: Aftersight

• (00:00) - Tempo: 120.0

1) Episode Summary

In this special Aftersight Original, Kim Wardlow shares the personal story behind her leadership and the road that led her to become Executive Director of Aftersight. She reflects on growing up in Lamar, Colorado, her early love for creativity, 4-H, cooking, service, travel, and the many work experiences that quietly prepared her for nonprofit leadership.

Kim walks listeners through pivotal moments in her life—from studying abroad in Scotland and working internationally, to volunteering at what was then Radio Reading Service of the Rockies, to unexpectedly finding both her calling and her husband through the organization. She also shares how Aftersight has evolved over the years from volunteer-read programming into a wider community-centered organization offering podcasts, peer support, book club, white canes, and more.

This episode is both a personal milestone and a mission-centered reflection. As Kim celebrates her 60th birthday and approaches 25 years with Aftersight, she invites listeners to see the deeper heart behind the organization: building community, increasing independence, and creating meaningful access for people who are blind, low vision, deafblind, or in need of alternatives to print. The episode closes with an invitation to support Aftersight’s work through her birthday giving campaign.

2) Contact Info

Guest / Organization:
Kim Wardlow — Executive Director, Aftersight
Aftersight website: aftersight.org
Birthday campaign / donations: Visit the donate page at aftersight.org

Aftersight:
Aftersight Originals network featuring Navigating Life with Vision Loss, The Blind Chick, Blindsight, and Blind Level Tech

Producer Credit:
Jonathan Price — Podcast Producer, Aftersight

3) Show Credits

Special Aftersight Original
Featuring Kim Wardlow
Opening by Jonathan Price
Produced by Jonathan Price
Organization: Aftersight

4) Chapter Markers

00:00 — Jonathan’s welcome and special Aftersight introduction
00:53 — Kim introduces herself, Aftersight, and the reason for sharing her story
03:14 — Childhood in Lamar, creativity, 4-H, and early PBS dreams
05:38 — Learning leadership, service, and community values
08:03 — Solar panels, first jobs, and developing a strong work ethic
10:28 — College, Scotland, travel, and broadening her world
12:54 — Early professional life, proposal writing, and service work
15:14 — Volunteering with Radio Reading Service and working at GE Access
17:37 — Friendship, snowshoeing, travel, and a season of transition
20:02 — Layoff, September 2001, and joining Radio Reading Service
22:21 — Meeting Doug, discovering purpose, and seeing the bigger calling
24:43 — Outreach across Colorado, music, and the value of volunteers
27:04 — How Aftersight expanded into podcasts, groups, and broader services
29:29 — Leadership, rebrand, relocation, and adapting through COVID
31:44 — Community, connection, and why the work matters
34:07 — Life purpose, independence, and the mission behind Aftersight
36:31 — Kim’s birthday campaign and invitation to support Aftersight

• (00:00) - Tempo: 120.0

In this episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes sits down with Sean Keane, an accessibility professional, AI enthusiast, and founder of the AI for the Blind Club. Sean shares his journey from assistive technology trainer and nonprofit technology director to becoming deeply involved in artificial intelligence after a stroke changed how he interacts with computers.
Sean explains how losing dexterity in one hand pushed him to experiment with AI tools like ChatGPT and Suno AI, ultimately discovering how generative AI could help him write, create music, and explore ideas more efficiently. What began as a practical solution quickly evolved into a creative outlet and a new way of thinking about technology.
Throughout the conversation, Evan and Sean discuss the rapid evolution of generative AI, how blind users are uniquely positioned to benefit from text-driven tools, and why learning to prompt AI effectively is becoming an important skill. Sean also talks about his book The Hum Method, which teaches people how to turn musical ideas in their head into AI-generated songs, even if they aren’t musicians.
The episode also highlights Sean’s growing community, the AI for the Blind Club, a private Facebook group with thousands of members where blind and low-vision users share AI tools, tips, and experiments. The group has grown from a small discussion space into a nonprofit resource helping people explore emerging technology.
The conversation wraps up with a discussion of classic assistive technology, including early screen readers and computers like the Apple IIe, and the idea of bringing together longtime technology users for a panel about the evolution of accessible tech.
Whether you’re curious about AI music generation, creative uses of generative models, or how technology can empower people after life-changing events, this episode explores how AI can open new doors for creativity and accessibility.
Check out AI For the Blind Club at https://aiftb.com
Creators & Guests

• Evan Starnes - Host

The episode begins with accessibility news, highlighting the upcoming CSUN Assistive Technology Conference in Anaheim, California (March 9–13). Evan shares reflections from attending last year’s conference and encourages listeners interested in emerging assistive tech to consider attending.
A major announcement follows from Be My Eyes, introducing Be My Eyes Workplace, a professional accessibility platform designed for employment environments. The suite includes AI-powered image descriptions for on-screen content, remote assistance from trusted colleagues, and accessible interaction with workplace documents such as PDFs, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Next, Evan dives into a substantial firmware update for the Victor Reader Stream 3, outlining numerous improvements including customizable online bookshelves, podcast management controls, download prioritization, Bluetooth device management, expanded file compatibility, and support for Bluetooth keyboards—dramatically improving text entry and workflow efficiency.
HumanWare also enters the spotlight with the announcement of the BrailleNote Evolve, a next-generation Windows-based braille notetaker featuring 32 GB of RAM and full compatibility with screen readers like NVDA and JAWS. Evan discusses how this device could blur the line between traditional note takers and full desktop computing environments.
Additional accessibility news includes updates to Numa Solutions Remote Incident Manager, which now supports session recording—an especially valuable feature for remote training and technical support.
The episode then shifts into mainstream tech updates, including rumors and announcements surrounding Apple’s evolving product strategy, upcoming hardware releases, and accessibility fixes in iOS 26.3. Evan also discusses the newly released second-generation Apple AirTag, improvements to Precision Finding, and expanded lost-luggage recovery sharing.
Finally, Evan covers emerging developments from Meta, including reported facial recognition capabilities under development for smart glasses—technology that could significantly enhance real-world identification and environmental awareness for blind users.
The episode closes with an open invitation for listener feedback, story submissions, and voicemail participation before Evan signs off—ready for a well-earned lunch break.
★ Support this podcast ★

• (00:00) - — Welcome & Listener Feedback Updates
• (01:40) - — CSUN Assistive Technology Conference Preview
• (03:20) - — Be My Eyes Workplace Announcement
• (05:20) - — Victor Reader Stream 3 Version 1.6 Updates
• (10:20) - — BrailleNote Evolve Announcement
• (12:35) - — Remote Incident Manager Recording Feature
• (13:50) - — Apple AirTag 2 Overview
• (15:05) - — Apple Product Strategy & Upcoming Devices
• (16:20) - — iOS 26.3 Accessibility Changes
• (17:20) - — Meta Smart Glasses Facial Recognition
• (18:05) - — Listener Feedback & Wrap-Up

This week on Blind Level Tech, Evan Starnes and Jonathan Price kick things off with some classic dark-humor banter, then jump into listener feedback from Anne in Topeka, Kansas—highlighting the very real (and very frustrating) accessibility pitfalls of modern appliances: “tactile” markings that turn out to be painted-on decoration, hidden features like child lock, and ovens that refuse to heat after a power glitch unless the clock is reset.

From there, the episode pivots into a practical, BLT-style comparison: Amazon Echo / Alexa (including Alexa+) vs Apple HomePod / Siri, with accessibility and real-world usability front and center. Evan breaks down what’s improved with Alexa+ (better conversational flow, expanded integrations, more assistant-like behaviors), what still feels messy (skills being left behind, app UI changes, and feature removals like announcements in your own voice, and why turning on start/end request sounds can be a game-changer for blind users. On the Apple side, the conversation covers HomePod setup simplicity, VoiceOver support on-device, strong audio quality, and how Apple’s ecosystem can be both a strength and a limitation—especially depending on your smart-home brands.

The episode wraps with a lightning-round verdict (cost vs setup vs audio quality vs usability), a call for listener stories and “tech faceplants,” and a clear reminder that Aftersight’s work is powered by community support—whether through donations, merch, or sharing the show.

In this episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes is joined once again by Jonathan Price for a wide-ranging conversation about what they call “tech wins”—mainstream technology that either intentionally includes accessibility or, by good design, ends up being universally accessible.
The discussion flips the script from past episodes focused on accessibility gaps and instead highlights real-world examples of tech getting it right. A listener email from Dan sparks a deep dive into classic and modern Braille technology, including the Braille Lite, Optacon, and the challenges of modern graphical Braille displays. From there, the conversation expands into Samsung’s ecosystem—covering appliances, TVs, soundbars, monitors, and the SmartThings app—and how thoughtful setup experiences, audio cues, and system-wide integration can make an enormous difference for blind and low-vision users.
Evan and Jonathan also explore why accessible onboarding matters, how ecosystems can cross company boundaries (Samsung + Apple), and why certain accessibility features—like audible setup screens—should never disappear.
{{chapters{{
00:00 – Welcome back & episode setup
02:00 – Defining “Tech Wins”
04:30 – Listener email from Dan: Braille Lite & Optacon
06:45 – History of Braille notetakers
11:30 – Samsung appliances & audio-based accessibility
13:45 – Voice Guide on washers and smart appliances
15:50 – Samsung TV setup and onboarding accessibility
18:00 – Why setup screens matter
20:00 – SmartThings app & ecosystem integration
23:00 – Soundbars, remotes, and physical controls
26:15 – Vizio accessibility shout-out
28:00 – Favorite Samsung tech & what shouldn’t disappear
30:00 – Wrapping up & listener call-to-action

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Tech companies promise “life-changing.” Then you open the app and meet the unlabeled rectangle of doom.

Evan Starnes is joined by Aftersight’s lead podcast producer (and returning BLT co-host) Jonathan Price for a banter-forward reality check on modern tech hype—especially through the lens of accessibility. Inspired by a listener email from Ron in Memphis, they unpack why “AI everywhere” can create more friction than freedom, how subscription creep turns products into monthly relationships, and why companies keep shipping half-baked devices that depend on updates and vague “bug fixes.”

Then it’s time for Tech Faceplant: the smart device that can’t survive setup, the app that became a dashboard, and the “next big thing” hardware that doesn’t fit real life. The episode wraps with a practical BLT buyer checklist built around independence, reliability, accessibility support, and exit costs—because if you can’t set it up solo, it’s not premium…it’s dependent.

SEND US YOUR TECH FACEPLANTS
Email: feedback@aftersight.org
Voicemail: 720-712-8856
Put “BLT Tech Faceplant” in the subject/message so we can find it fast.

CREDITS
Host: Evan Starnes
Co-host: Jonathan Price
Producer: Jonathan Price

CHAPTERS
00:02 — Evan’s “overheated co-host” intro + Jonathan’s back for banter
02:25 — Weather whiplash + quick note on seasonal mental health
04:51 — Ron (Memphis) email: “Tech Faceplant” + accessibility truth bombs
07:16 — Evan’s $300 “smart” toothbrush: app required, accessibility fails
09:40 — If it’s not usable day one, it’s not a breakthrough—it’s a project
12:00 — AI everywhere: real value vs. nuisance overlays (and battery hits)
16:31 — Subscription creep: products becoming monthly relationships
18:54 — “Smart” mattress example: app features locked behind a paywall
23:42 — Hotel mini-bar sensors + tactile exploration accessibility barrier
25:58 — Half-baked launches + OTA updates + vague release notes
28:25 — Tech Faceplant #2: the app that became a dashboard
30:49 — Tech Faceplant #3: hardware that doesn’t fit real life
33:12 — The first 5-minute BLV reality check: setup + QR-code traps
35:30 — Buyer rules: “Does it need to be smart?” + reviews + BLV validation
40:21 — Non-negotiables: app dependence + offline access + “paperweight” risk
42:11 — Send your tech fails + next episode tease: tech that actually delivers
46:48 — Outro: “Hope is loud and usability is quiet.”

• (00:00) - Tempo: 120.0