The Eyes Free Sports Podcast
Sports
About
Eyes Free Sports explores sports and recreation activities for blind and visually impaired individuals.
Episodes
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 165 – Talking Martial Arts and Self-Defense with Christina Campbell
In this episode, Christina Campbell, an accomplished martial arts competitor and certified instructor, shares her journey in martial arts and self-defense. She discusses her early life, achievements, and her work teaching martial arts to v…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 164 – Meeting Antoine Craig, an Accomplished Adaptive Athlete in Track and field and Blind Soccer
In Episode 164, the Eyes Free Sports podcast interviews adaptive athlete Antoine Craig. Craig shares his experiences in track and field and blind soccer, alongside details about his education, career in mental health, and work with Blind S…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 163 – American Council of the Blind Staff Members Attend Super Bowl LX
In Episode 163, Eyes Free Sports features American Council of the Blind staff members discussing their Super Bowl LX experience, the ACB-NFL partnership, and the use of accessibility devices like OneCourt.
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 162 – Taking a Run with Erich Manser
In Episode 162 of the Eyes Free Sports podcast, adaptive athlete and accessibility professional Erich Manser shares his experiences growing up, his career in accessibility, and his journey into adaptive sports like running, triathlons, and…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 161 – Learning about Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind
In episode 161, the Eyes Free Sports podcast features Gwen Botting, executive director of Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind (OUB). Botting discusses OUB's programs, sports, and the importance of independent living skills for the blind,…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 160 - A Conversation with Jacob Kaplan, a Member of the U.S. Men's Cerebral Palsy National Soccer Team and Sports Audio describer
Jacob Kaplan, a member of the U.S. Men's Cerebral Palsy National Soccer Team, shares his experiences playing soccer and his work in sports audio description for blind and visually impaired fans.
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 159 –Taking a Run with Running Guides from Guiding Eyes for the Blind
In this episode of Eyes Free Sports, guests Jolene Hollister, Jenna Rovelli, and Sky Foshay from Guiding Eyes for the Blind discuss their Running Guides program. They cover the training of guide dogs for visually impaired runners, the hist…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 158 – Meeting Dr. Wellington De Luna Vazquez, a Professor at the University of Tampa and Head Coach of the Puerto Rican National Men’s Goalball Team
In this episode of Eyes Free Sports, Dr. Wellington De Luna Vazquez discusses his background, education, and research in blind sports. He shares insights into his role as a professor at the University of Tampa and his experience coaching t…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 157 – Recapping the Recent T20 Women’s Blind Cricket World Cup with the U.S. National Team
This episode features a roundtable with four members of the U.S. women's blind cricket team discussing their experiences at the T20 Women's Blind Cricket World Cup. They share insights on the tournament format, their participation, lessons…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 156 – Meeting Alvaro Mora Arellano and Ethan Kunes of the U.S. National Blind Soccer Team
Alvaro Mora Arellano and Ethan Kunes, members of the U.S. National Blind Soccer Team, share their personal stories, how they discovered blind soccer, and their experiences competing internationally. They also discuss the requirements for b…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 155 – Taking a Spin with Dr. Claudia Folska
Episode 155 features Dr. Claudia Folska, discussing her life as a tandem cyclist, her visual impairment, founding the Eyecycle nonprofit, and her experiences in public office and across the United States.
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 154 - Catching Up with Murray Elbourn on Blind Tennis and Developing an Accessible American Football for the Blind
Murray Elbourn rejoins the Eyes Free Sports podcast to discuss his new role as president of the U.S. Blind Tennis Association and updates on the sport. He also shares details about a project developing an accessible American football for t…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast - Ep. 153 - Mark Ivy Returns to Talk about the 2025 Beep Baseball Season and Comedy
Mark Ivy returns to Eyes Free Sports to discuss the Oklahoma Lookouts' 2025 beep baseball season, including their World Series aspirations and his experience at the all-star showcase. He also shares insights into his career as a blind stan…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 152 – Taking a Hike Up Mount Kilimanjaro
In Episode 152, Drs. Conchita Hernandez and Sachin Pavithran, visually impaired climbers, share their experiences from a group trek up Mount Kilimanjaro. They discuss their backgrounds, adaptive sports, the climb
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 151 – Meeting Tanveer Ahmed, a Multisport Adaptive Athlete
In this episode, Tanveer Ahmed, a Pakistani multisport adaptive athlete living in New York, shares his experiences. He discusses losing his eyesight, competing in blind archery and cricket in Pakistan, and pursuing adaptive sports in the U…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 150 - Discussing Blind Cricket and the Cricket Association for the Blind USA
Episode 150 features Abey and Drew Finklea discussing blind cricket in the United States. They share details about the Cricket Association for the Blind USA, their efforts in developing national teams, and plans for growing the sport local…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 149 - How Several Athletes Discovered Sports for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Episode 149 of the Eyes Free Sports podcast revisits conversations with blind and visually impaired athletes, detailing their discovery of adaptive sports such as goalball, tennis, and beep baseball. Featured athletes include Eliana Mason,…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 148 - Meeting Joe Chite, a Goalball Player and Blind Sports Supporter
In Episode 148, Joe Chite shares his experiences with goalball, including its impact on him and his work fostering a local blind sports community in South Florida. He also touches on his personal journey and other adaptive sports he wishes…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 147 - Running with Terri Rupp, an Accomplished Adaptive Endurance Athlete and Ultra Marathon Runner
This episode features adaptive endurance athlete Terri Rupp, who shares her experiences with running ultra-marathons, using guides and tethers, her guide dog from Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and her work with the National Federation of the…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 146 - Recapping the 2025 National Beep Baseball Association Season and World Series
Episode 146 recaps the 2025 National Beep Baseball Association season and World Series with Hall of Fame player Dave Benney. They discuss offseason moves, tournaments, the championship game between the Indy Thunder and Indy Edge, and histo…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 145 - Hitting the Beep Baseball Field with Joseph Fleeks
In this episode, Joseph Fleeks discusses his experience losing his eyesight as a teenager, his transition to the Texas School for the Blind, and his sports career in beep baseball. He also covers his involvement with the Blind Professional…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 144 - Catching Up with Chad Dillon, a Beep Baseball Player, Business Owner, and Podcast Host
In episode 144, the Eyes Free Sports podcast features Chad Dillon, a beep baseball player and host. Dillon discusses his life, including discovering his visual impairment, his education, career, beep baseball experiences with various teams…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 143 - Learning about Birding by Ear and Beyond with Founder Donna Posont
Episode 143 features Donna Posont, founder of Birding by Ear and Beyond, discussing birding for the blind. She shares insights on her life, interest in nature, the creation of her program at University of Michigan Dearborn, and methods for…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 142 - Discussing Accessible Video Games for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Episode 142 of The Eyes Free Sports Podcast features Carlos Vazquez and Aaron Espinoza discussing accessible video games for the blind and visually impaired. They share personal backgrounds, visual impairments, gaming experiences, and advo…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 141 - A Conversation with Emma Papariella, a Multisport Adaptive Athlete and Advocate
This episode features Emma Papariella, a multisport adaptive athlete and advocate. She shares her personal story, including her adoption from China, her visual impairment, and her introduction to adaptive sports like blind hockey, soccer,…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 140 - Hitting the Soccer Pitch to Meet Ryan Lazaroe, Head Coach of the U.S. Men’s National Blind Soccer Team
Ryan Lazaroe, head coach of the U.S. men’s national blind soccer team, joins the Eyes Free Sports podcast to discuss his background, coaching career, and the sport of blind soccer. He covers the team's recent events, future plans, and ways…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 139 - Catching Up with Angel Parra, a Goalball Player and Swimmer
Angel Parra, a goalball player and swimmer, joins the Eyes Free Sports podcast to discuss his name change, adaptive sports journey, recent health issues, volunteering at Camp Abilities, and future aspirations.
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 138 - Meeting the Vibin’ Vixens, a New All-Female Beep Baseball Team
In Episode 138, the Eyes Free Sports podcast features the Vibin’ Vixens, a new all-female beep baseball team. Guests Ashley Melero, Faith Penn, and Dakota Hogwood discuss their visual impairments, personal journeys into beep baseball, the…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 137 - Catching up with the New York Bombers Beep Baseball Club and Recapping Their Appearance on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show'
James Sciortino, Jim Hughes, and Alex Barrera from the New York Bombers beep baseball team discuss their rebrand, the upcoming season, and their experience being guests on The Kelly Clarkson Show. They also mention a donation from Major Le…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 136 - Meeting Lillian Goodman, a Visually Impaired Skier and All-Around Adaptive Athlete
In this episode of the Eyes Free Sports podcast, visually impaired adaptive athlete Lillian Goodman shares her experiences with skiing, paratriathlon, and swimming. She also discusses her childhood, education, career in finance, and guide…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 135 - Getting to Know Tanner Gers, a Beep Baseball Hall of Famer and Paralympian
Episode 135 features Tanner Gers, discussing his life as an adaptive athlete, his beep baseball Hall of Fame career, and participation in the 2012 Paralympic Games. Gers also shares insights on overcoming adversity and his work as an Acces…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 134 - Running with Tyson Gunter, a Paralympian and Longtime Track and Field Athlete
In this episode of The Eyes Free Sports Podcast, Paralympian Tyson Gunter discusses his background in adaptive track and field, his career in sports nutrition, and his commitment to helping visually impaired youth engage in sports.
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 133 – Getting to Know Mark Ivy, an All-Star Beep Baseball Player and Standup Comedian
Episode 133 features Mark Ivy, an Oklahoma Lookouts beep baseball player and standup comedian. Mark discusses his childhood in Oklahoma, his visual impairment, his introduction to beep baseball, his career with the Oklahoma Lookouts, his r…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 132 – A Conversation with Mindy Cook, a Paralympian in Goalball
In Episode 132, the Eyes Free Sports podcast features Mindy Cook, a Paralympic silver medalist in goalball. Cook shares details about her childhood, visual impairment, education, career, discovery of goalball, and experiences competing for…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 131 – A Conversation with National Beep Baseball Association Hall of Famer and Indy Thunder Founder Darnell Booker
This episode features Darnell Booker, founder of the Indy Thunder beep baseball club and an NBBA Hall of Famer. Booker shares insights into his personal journey, his playing and coaching career in beep baseball, and strategies for success.
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 130 – Meeting Rich Hunter, an Endurance Athlete and Founder of United in Stride
In Episode 130, Rich Hunter, founder of United in Stride, shares his experiences as an endurance athlete and discusses the organization which connects visually impaired runners with sighted guides. Hunter covers his background, the inspira…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 129 – Learning about Tactile Engineering and Its Technology for Blind Sports Fans
In Episode 129, the Eyes Free Sports podcast features Dave Schleppenbach, CEO of Tactile Engineering, discussing the Cadence Braille tablet. This technology allows blind and visually impaired individuals to consume visual information, such…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 128 – Talking Blind Soccer and the 2024 USA Blind Soccer International Cup with Ricky Castaneda
Ricky Castaneda returns to the Eyes Free Sports podcast to discuss the 2024 USA Blind Soccer International Cup. He shares insights into blind soccer, the U.S. team's performance against England and Japan, and future Paralympic goals.
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 127 – Discussing Blind Baseball and the 2024 WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup
Kiana Glanton and Ed Plumacher join the Eyes Free Sports podcast to discuss blind baseball, including personal journeys, how the sport works, and experiences in the 2024 WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup. They also cover the current st…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 126 – A Conversation with Richie Flores, a Longtime Adaptive Athlete and President of the National Beep Baseball Association
Episode 126 features Richie Flores, president of the National Beep Baseball Association. He shares his experiences with visual impairment, adaptive sports like beep baseball and goalball, his career, and his vision for the NBBA's future.
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 125 – Learning about OneCourt, a Startup Transforming Sports for Blind and Low Vision Fans
In this episode of the Eyes Free Sports podcast, guests from OneCourt Technologies discuss their device designed to help blind and visually impaired fans follow sporting events. They cover the device's functionality, target sports, potenti…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 124 – Meeting Retired U.S. Army Major Ivan Castro, a Longtime Endurance Athlete
In this episode of the Eyes Free Sports podcast, retired U.S. Army Major Ivan Castro shares his experiences as an endurance athlete, his 28-year military career, and how he continued to serve after losing his sight. He discusses his marath…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast -Ep. 123: Playing Blind Chess with David Rosenkoetter
In Episode 123, David Rosenkoetter joins The Eyes Free Sports Podcast to share his experiences with adaptive sports and blind chess. He details his personal journey, educational and professional career, and how fitness aids his mental game…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 122 – Talking Blind Hockey with Drew Garza and Josh Schneider of The Dented Puck Foundation
Drew Garza and Josh Schneider from The Dented Puck Foundation discuss their personal journeys with low vision, how they discovered blind hockey, and their experiences with the sport. They also cover the foundation's mission and the current…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 121 – Stretching with Sonya Chapnick, a Visually Impaired Certified yoga Therapist and Founder/CEO of Yoga Gently
Sonya Chapnick, founder and CEO of Yoga Gently, shares her journey into yoga therapy, her career path before vision loss, and the adaptive yoga programs she offers to visually impaired individuals. She also discusses her involvement in ada…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 120 – Meeting David Benney and Recapping the 2024 National Beep Baseball Association World Series and Season
In Episode 120, the Eyes Free Sports podcast features David Benney, discussing his life experiences, his journey in beep baseball, and the 2024 National Beep Baseball Association World Series. Benney also shares insights on the NBBA season…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 119 – A Visit with Liz Bottner, a Blind Hockey Player, Adaptive Runner, and All-Around Disability Advocate
In Episode 119, Liz Bottner, a blind hockey player, adaptive runner, and disability advocate, joins the Eyes Free Sports Podcast. She shares her experiences with adaptive sports, her career, and offers advice and resources for the blind co…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 118 – A Conversation with Alvin Suarez, a Goalball Player and Coach, Beep Baseball Player, and Musician
In episode 118, the Eyes Free Sports podcast interviews Alvin Suarez, an adaptive athlete and coach from New York City. Suarez shares insights into his visual impairment, education, experiences in goalball and beep baseball, coaching a wom…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 117 – A Conversation with Wynter Pingel, a Beep Baseball Player, Runner, and Musician
This episode features Wynter Pingel, discussing her childhood, education, and career, including her involvement with National Braille Press. She shares her experiences with adaptive sports like beep baseball and running, as well as her mus…
- The Eyes Free Sports Podcast: Ep. 116 – Meeting Murray Elbourn, a Longtime Goalball Player, Disability Sports Leader, & CEO of Amerability Services
Episode 116 features Murray Elbourn, a goalball player and disability sports leader. He discusses his life in Australia, vision loss, adaptive sports, moving between countries, his involvement with blind tennis, and founding Amerability Se…