Today’s episode begins… well, we’ll let you figure out the surprise about that beginning. It leads us into a discussion of AI, how it both hurts and helps, and a few cool things we as blind and low vision folks do with it that others may never consider. Kim also discusses why, particularly as a musician, she is torn about using AI for music. Chris also shares a cool experience he just had using AI in a weather app.

The majority of our episode takes place with a guest in our magic castle. Rachel Ramos, Blind Product Specialist at HumanWare, joins us to talk about the BrailleNote Evolve. How is it similar to previous BrailleNote models? What features make it new and different? We have a well-rounded and lively discussion that we think you’ll find interesting and entertaining. And Chris and Kim also have a big announcement to share about halfway through.

To learn more about the BrailleNote Evolve, activate this link. There’s also a link on that page to get on the waiting list for the QWERTY version, which all three of us are super excited about. To reach the Evolve support documentation, visit this page.

We’ll be back in two weeks after celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary. Where does the time go? Have a great start to your August, and we’ll talk soon! Thanks, as always, for listening!

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YouTube, Tech Talk, Weather Apps & Little House? Yep…It’s One of *Those* Episodes! This week, we have a delightful smorgasbord of topics, so grab your favorite beverage and come hang out with us!

We’re kicking things off by telling you all about our upcoming two-part virtual event, You’ve Got YouTube! If you’ve ever wondered whether YouTube has anything to offer someone who is blind or has low vision, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Whether you’re looking for educational content, nostalgia, travel, technology, gardening, music, laughs, or just something relaxing to enjoy, YouTube has something for just about everyone.

During Week One, we’ll cover the nuts and bolts: * Using YouTube on iPhone, Android, Windows PCs, Smart TVs, and more * Accounts, navigation, subscriptions, YouTube Premium, and other essentials

Week Two is where the treasure hunt begins! We’ll show you how to: * Find great creators and channels * Search for exactly what you want * Interact with creators and videos * Discover even more content you’ll love

We’ll also explain what this event **doesn’t** cover—we won’t be teaching you how to create YouTube videos or download and convert them.

For all the details and to reserve your seat (at a fantastic price!), be sure to visit the event page. And don’t forget—our site-wide sale continues through the end of July, making this a great time to save!

Next, we dive into a fascinating conversation about screen reader-first app design and how accessibility can shine when it’s considered from the very beginning. We also chat about how AI is changing software development, helping developers build applications faster than ever before. Along the way, we discuss several interesting apps and projects, including: * QuickMail * Jeff Bishop’s Quill and Quill Radio * The upcoming QuillCast * Simulcast (still waiting in the wings and not yet publicly available)

Living in the Northeast lately has meant keeping one eye (and ear!) on the smoky skies. We talk about how we stay informed when the weather gets interesting and share some of our favorite weather resources, including: * Weather Gods * Carrot Weather * The Weather Channel * Weather Guardian, a newer app offering screen reader access to weather radar * Weatherology for audio forecasts * And, of course, our trusty voice assistants How do *you* keep up with the weather? We’d love to know!

Finally, because why not? We wrap things up with a chat about Netflix’s new Little House on the Prairie series. We compare it with Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved books, revisit the classic 1974 television series, discuss the audio description, and share our thoughts on how this new adaptation measures up.

As always, thank you so much for spending some time with us. We have some funny bloopers at the end of this one, so stay tuned. And we’ll be back in early August with an episode featuring a little girl power in the castle! Stay tuned…we can’t wait to share it with you!

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Did you notice a recent surprise bonus episode in your podcast feed? Before joining Mystic Access, Chris was part of Sendero Group, one of the pioneers in accessible GPS technology. That episode is a special retrospective that takes a walk down memory lane while catching up with several former Sendero team members to learn what they’re doing today. If you haven’t listened yet, be sure to give it a spin!

In this episode, we’re making your kitchen smell like your favorite neighborhood bakery—with almost no effort! We introduce you to the Wildgrain subscription service, explain how it works, and share our own experiences after sampling a variety of its breads, cookies, and other baked treats. Spoiler alert: everything we’ve tried has been absolutely delicious! Kim also gives you an overview of the website and demonstrates what the experience is like once you’re signed in.

Next, we explore Duck.ai, the AI chat service from DuckDuckGo. If you’ve been curious about trying different AI models without creating an account or giving up more personal information than necessary, this service may be worth a look. Kim first discovered Duck.ai after repeatedly seeing television commercials and decided to check it out on her iPhone using Safari before sharing a demonstration with everyone using Microsoft Edge on Windows. We’ll show you what the free experience is like and see how it performs in everyday use.

Whether you’re in the mood for warm bread, new technology, or both, we hope you enjoy spending some time with us. As always, thanks so much for listening! We look forward to catching up with you again later in July. Happy Summer!

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