How do people who are blind or partially sighted learn, access, and perform music? It’s a question that gets asked a lot, and this week Nika and Randi join Shawn and special guest Lori (who also happens to be Randi’s Mom) to discuss this and share stories of what it was like to grow up taking music lessons.

It’s that time of the year again when students all over the country begin to prepare to head back to school; however, with COVID, that means that this year is very different than most. This week Nika and Kolby join Shawn as co-hosts and welcome Jill, Ella, and Aman to the show to discuss what it’s like to be going back to High School or University this year and the anxiety, concerns, and challenges that they are facing as both students as well as students who are blind or partially sighted. 

This week Jinnie joins Shawn as co-host to interview the President of the Board of Directors, Betty Nobel where they discuss her childhood, growing up blind, her career path and what drew her to the Blind Beginnings organization. It's an interview that spans decades and you one you don't want to miss!

Shawn is joined on the show this week by two co-hosts who also happen to be working for Blind Beginnings this summer as Program Assistants -- Clement and Kolby! Together they discuss the social distanced hiking program currently running through the month of August and the importance of being able to get back out into nature as well as a rundown of how the hikes have gone this summer so far. And, while talking about the Great Outdoors, even manage to sneak in a discussion of favorite camp stories from years past!

This week Owen joins Shawn for co-host duties and the two welcome Sky Mundell, an Assistive Technology trainer at the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind, located in Victoria, BC. They discuss everything from Sky’s piano playing abilities and his performance in Vegas, to his favorite pieces of Assistive Technology to how he got started in the industry, with a lot of tech talk in between. If technology is something that excites you, then this is the episode for you!

This week we’ve got a huge show as Randi joins as co-host and brings the topic of how blindness is represented in various TV shows and movies over the years to a guest panel that includes Nika, Keisha, and Shawn. The panel discusses some of the hits and misses, what stereotypes are common (and annoying), and how representation has improved more recently. It’s our longest episode yet, but also the most thought-provoking and if you’re looking for some movie suggestions or want to know the answer to the burning question of whether or not Randi met Jason Momoa on the set of See, you won’t want to miss this episode! 

Ever wonder where Pouce Coupe is? Or how to spell it? Have you ever spent an evening thinking about what the difference between a violin and a fiddle is? Well these answers and many more get answered this week as Jinnie and Shawn welcome Nolan to the show, one of our young members who came to Blind Beginnings during the shift to online programming as the result of COVID. They talk to him about his YouTube channel, his eye condition, his favorite Blind Beginnings programs, life in a small town, and much more!

The excitement levels are high this week as Shawn and co-host Kolby welcome International singing sensation Jugpreet Singh Bajwa aka 'Juggy Jag' to the podcast! They discuss everything from his first public performance at 6 years old, to how his vision has impacted his music and even manage to convince him to sing a little! You don’t want to miss this one!

If you are under the impression that there will be “no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations” on this week’s episode, you have got the wrong show! This week Jinnie joins Shawn as co-host and they welcome Keisha and Clement to the show to discuss all things Harry Potter! As it turns out, Jinnie has never read the books, and Keisha and Clement are on hand to tell her just what the big deal is all about. If you’re new to the Potterverse or an avid Potterhead, this is a show you won’t want to miss!

This week Shawn is joined by co-host Nika and longtime Youth Mentor Jill Sloane, where they discuss Jill’s upcoming Independent Living Skills Workshop and what she will be covering, as well as their own experiences and challenges with everyday tasks, such as cooking and laundry. If you’ve ever wondered how to cook the perfect egg in the microwave, this is the show for you!

Episode 2 has us breaking a sweat as Shawn and her co-host Randi welcome Whitley Point to the podcast. Whitley is a Yoga and Fitness Instructor and works with our Active Beginnings Program, designing and running described fitness workouts. We discuss Whitley’s vision condition, what made her decide on becoming a Yoga and Fitness instructor, how COVID-19 has affected her and the challenges of online workout classes. 

This is it! Our very first episode of the Limitless Podcast! Join host Shawn Marsolais, Executive Director and Founder of Blind Beginnings, along with a bevy of co-hosts including Randi, Owen, Clement, Kolby, and Nika as they discuss their experiences with blindness or partial sightedness, how they hope that the podcast can be used to empower and inform others, and what future episodes may contain.