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!

The post Theme Songs, Described Graphics, and Evolving in the Castle appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

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!

The post Baking, Browsing, and a Blast from the Past appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

In this special bonus episode of the Mystic Access Podcast, we’re delighted to share a memorable piece of history from the “The People Make the Places — Mike May and Friends podcast.” With Mike’s generous permission, we’re featuring this episode here because Sendero Group played such a meaningful role in Chris’s life and in the evolution of accessible GPS for blind and low‑vision travelers.

This presentationis a joyful stroll down memory lane, offering a glimpse into where we were twenty years ago and how far accessible navigation has come since those early days. Whether you lived this history alongside us or are discovering it for the first time, we hope you enjoy revisiting these moments as much as we did.

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In this episode, return with us to the email simplicity of yesterday… or at least, a couple decades ago. Chris is demoing Quickmail, a public beta Windows program developed by Kelly Ford. It’s a screen reader first program, and there’s a lot we love about it. Here are a few things to know. • Multi-account — connect any number of IMAP/SMTP accounts simultaneously • Unified inbox — all mail from all accounts in one sorted view • Conversation view — threads grouped by subject with collapsible tree • Keyboard-first — full navigation, reply, forward, and delete. • Secure credentials — passwords stored in Windows Credential Manager, never in plain text To use it, you must have Windows 10/11 x64.

Download your own copy by activating this link. You can find the user manual on this page. We’re excited to watch this program continue to develop, and we hope you find it interesting, too.

We have a lot of goodies to share soon, so stay tuned for our next episode. Talk in July!

The post Yesterday’s Email Once More appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

If you enjoyed our last episode, you’re in luck! This one continues the theme with more helpful tools, fun discoveries, and practical demos to make everyday life a little easier—and a lot more enjoyable.

Before we dive into today’s topics, here’s a friendly reminder that we’re headed to the library—virtually, of course! Join us on Thursday, June 11 at 8:00 PM Eastern Time for a free community event all about making the most of your local library. We’ll discuss: How to find your local library How to get a library card How to access audiobooks, ebooks, magazines, and more Whether your library offers services like Libby and Hoopla How those services work Ways to take advantage of both in-person and online library offerings Bring your questions, experiences, and favorite library stories to share. We’d love to hear them! Activate this link to register your free seat. Can’t attend live? No worries, and no need to register. We’ll post a recording for everyone within about a week, so you won’t miss any of the fun.

For those who love practical products you can actually hold in your hands, Kim has a new favorite to share. This episode features a demonstration of a set of nestable fruit and vegetable storage containers with built-in colanders. Note that this is our affiliate link and we receive a small commission if you purchase using our link. Rinse your produce directly in the colander, place it in the container, seal it for freshness, and stack it neatly in the refrigerator. We’ve been especially impressed with how well they work for berries. Our blackberries stayed fresher much longer, making these containers an easy recommendation from us. We’ll explain why we love them, how we use them, and why they may earn a permanent spot in your fridge.

Next, we explore the new VAL clock app for iOS. If you heard our discussion of Steve’s Clock in the previous episode, some of the sounds in VAL may seem familiar. That’s because you can import clock sounds directly from Steve’s Clock into VAL. Listen along as we: Sample several clock sounds Explore the app’s many customization options Demonstrate how it works Share our impressions of this brand-new app Since VAL is so new, we wanted to give it a little well-deserved attention and introduce it to listeners who enjoy accessible audio utilities.

Finally, we return to the web to explore the Finch browser extension by Akash Kakkar. Available for both Chromium-based browsers and Gecko-based browsers like Firefox, Finch adds subtle, informative sounds to your browsing experience. These audio cues can make navigation feel more intuitive while providing useful feedback as you move around the web. In this segment, we: Demonstrate several of Finch’s built-in sounds Show you how to configure the extension Discuss how it enhances everyday browsing Share why we’ve both become fans Sometimes the smallest additions can make a surprisingly big difference, and Finch is a great example.

As always, thank you for spending part of your day with us. We appreciate every listener who tunes in, shares an episode, or tells a friend about the podcast. We’ll catch you again later in June with more demos, discussions, and discoveries!

The post A Sound Approach to Tech appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

Welcome to today’s episode, featuring: Tabs, Time, and Techy Goodness! If you browse the web on a desktop or laptop, we’ve got tips, tools, and fun discoveries to make your online life smoother and more productive.

But before we dive into demos, we have two exciting announcements for our community!

Did you know you can borrow books from your local library without ever leaving home? You absolutely can, and we’re going to show you how! Join us on Thursday, June 11 at 8:00 PM Eastern for a free virtual event all about discovering the amazing digital resources your local library offers. We’ll talk about: Researching your local library Accessing digital audiobooks and ebooks Supporting your library while expanding your reading options Learning about library programs, guest speakers, and events Reconnecting with the community during a fun virtual evening together We’ve missed gathering with everyone and look forward to connecting again after so many months away. Be sure to register your free spot!

Kim also shares news about a special event for readers of the Our Special magazine from National Braille Press! Join Kim, NBP editor Natalie, and several columnists on Wednesday, June 3 at 8:00 PM ET for a virtual conversation open to both current and former subscribers. During this hour-long event, you’ll: Learn more about the magazine Explore the women’s-interest topics it covers Hear about a brand-new feature added this year Share your feedback and ideas for the magazine’s future Meet the people behind the publication To attend, email editor at NBP dot org (replace with the @ sign and period and remove spaces), or check your inbox—and maybe your Spam folder too—for meeting details sent by Natalie last week.

Next up, we explore a browser extension that may completely change how you manage tabs: HelloTabs. If your browser currently looks anything like Kim’s—dozens upon dozens of tabs open at once —this tool could become your new best friend.

We demonstrate: Jumping instantly between tabs with keyboard shortcuts Smarter tab organization Customization and configuration options Better time management while working and browsing Faster navigation with less frustration You’ll even hear Kim flying effortlessly from tab to tab like a browser wizard. It’s available for Chromium-based browsers and Firefox alike.

Speaking of time management, Chris introduces an old favorite: Steve’s Clock. This classic talking clock application for Windows may be old-school, but it still delivers plenty of charm and usefulness.

In this demo, you’ll learn: How the talking clock works Ways to configure announcements and settings How it fits into a modern Windows workflow Why talking clocks are still surprisingly delightful

Yes… it really was “a great time had by all.” we couldn’t resist the pun.

As always, thank you so much for spending your precious time with us. We appreciate every listen. We’ll see you in June!

The post Browser Magic and Talking Time appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

Something exciting is brewing in the podcast world! We kick off this episode with a sneak peek at a brand-new podcast client for iOS that Chris has been beta testing. While we’re keeping the app under wraps for now, there’s already plenty to be excited about. We share some early impressions, favorite features, and why even longtime podcast app loyalists may want to keep this one on their radar. Better yet, the developer will be joining us in the magic castle when the app officially launches, so this is only the beginning.

Then we head somewhere a little more classic… the library! Whether you love wandering the stacks in person or borrowing books while curled up in pajamas at home, today’s libraries offer far more than many people realize. We take a nostalgic trip through some of our library memories before talking about recently signing up for new library cards ourselves.

After a quick house ad (they’re back, OG listeners), Kim gives a beginner-friendly overview of the Libby app and then walks through the basics of Hoopla, including how to sign up and start exploring what your library has available digitally.

And if you’d like to dive deeper with us, we’re excited to announce our very first virtual event of 2026! Join Us Live — Thursday, June 11 at 8:00 PM ET. During this free virtual event, we’ll talk more about: * Getting and using library cards * The Libby and Hoopla services * Searching for and borrowing ebooks and audiobooks * Tips for getting started * Making the most of your local library resources We’ll also open things up so everyone can share favorite library services, reading discoveries, and tips of their own. If your talking book library doesn’t always have the titles you want—or you’re tired of long wait times—your local library might become your new favorite resource. Register for free by visiting the linked page above.

As always, thanks for reading… we mean listening! We appreciate every single one of you.

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