In this season finale of Off the Beaten Path, Dave and Deborah sit down with Stan Gowan, who has been legally blind since birth and has spent a lifetime proving that blindness does not limit a full and adventurous life.

Stan shares stories from his recent travels — including navigating the steep, vertical city of Taormina in Sicily, exploring Greek ruins, cruising across the Atlantic, and confidently moving through airports, cities, and ships using skill, memory, and thoughtful preparation. He offers practical insight into how he learns new environments, adapts his navigation strategies in crowded spaces, and balances technology with a deep appreciation for nature.

The conversation explores independence, spatial awareness, mobility training, and the importance of sturdy, reliable tools for travel. Stan also speaks about mentoring others who have recently lost vision, helping them rediscover confidence, purpose, and joy in a life that may look different — but is no less rich.

This episode is a celebration of resilience, autonomy, and the freedom that comes from trusting your abilities. It’s a powerful reminder that blindness is not the end of exploration — it’s an invitation to move through the world with skill, awareness, and courage.

More about Stan

Stan Gowan has been legally blind since birth due to premature exposure to high levels of oxygen in an incubator. Raised as the son of a U.S. Marine, he grew up moving frequently, developing independence and curiosity from an early age.

He earned a BA in Political Science before shifting paths into music, audio engineering, and high-end audio. Later, Stan and his wife Susan returned to school to study Information Technology and programming, leading to a nearly 40-year career developing software for IBM mainframe systems.

Stan received his first white cane during mobility training in high school and has continued refining his navigation skills throughout his life. Now retired, he and his wife travel extensively throughout the United States and Europe, with favorite destinations including Hawaii, Sicily, Portugal, Cabo, and Sedona.

When not traveling, Stan enjoys music, reading, and advocacy work within the blind and visually impaired community. He co-chairs a local vision-impaired support group and regularly presents on travel, cooking, and technology — encouraging those who have recently lost vision to rediscover independence and live fully.

Thanks for listening! Off The Beaten Path is brought to you by Dave Epstein and Awarewolf Gear, makers of the All Terrain Cane and the Urban Xplorer. To purchase a cane or find out more visit https://awarewolfgear.com/awghome

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In this episode of Off the Beaten Path, Dave sits down with Kasey Hopper — Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, youth soccer coach, visually impaired father, and creator of the 4 Fam Frogs YouTube channel.

Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa himself, Kasey brings both professional expertise and lived experience to the conversation. Together, he and Dave explore what it means to navigate life between sighted and blind worlds — not just as individuals, but as fathers, husbands, mentors, and advocates.

Kasey shares his journey from studying behavioral sciences to becoming one of the few legally blind Orientation and Mobility Specialists in the field. He talks openly about raising children with vision loss — the fear of keeping them safe, the difficulty of not seeing their faces clearly, and the unexpected humor and trust that strengthen their bond. Dave reflects on his own evolution as a father and husband, and the two discuss the quiet heaviness that can accompany gradual vision decline.

The conversation also highlights:

• Teaching independence through mobility skills
• Coaching youth soccer as a visually impaired dad
• Tandem biking and the power of teamwork
• The importance of humility and asking for help
• Building community through advocacy and social media
• Finding identity and purpose within vision loss

Through stories of camp, coaching, family life, and daily resilience, this episode is a powerful reminder that blindness does not define the boundaries of a full life — and that community, courage, and connection make all the difference.

About Kasey

Kasey Hopper is a dedicated Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist at the Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind, where he empowers visually impaired students to navigate the world with confidence. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa himself, Kasey brings personal insight and empathy to his work.

He is also a passionate youth soccer coach for his daughter’s 14U semi-competitive AYSO team and runs the @4famfrogs YouTube channel as “Papa Frog.” On his channel, he shares his experiences as a visually impaired dad, husband, and professional, offering a unique perspective on family life and accessibility.

Connect with Kasey

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@4FamFrogs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4famfrogs/?hl=en

Thanks for listening! Off The Beaten Path is brought to you by Dave Epstein and Awarewolf Gear, makers of the All Terrain Cane and the Urban Xplorer. To purchase a cane or find out more visit https://awarewolfgear.com/awghome

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Sedona Dave sits down with Monica Pruitt to talk about life, adventure, and identity as a blind traveler and athlete. Monica shares her personal journey with hearing aids since childhood, limited peripheral vision, and her reliance on a white cane—along with how she’s built resilience through movement, storytelling, and advocacy.

They dive into Monica’s $10,000 travel grant experience visiting national parks as a blind person, exploring what accessibility actually looks like on the ground—and how parks could better communicate trail difficulty based on terrain rather than pavement.

Together they explore the deeper side of vision loss: diagnosis, identity, and the pressure society puts on blind people to “stay safe” rather than stay alive.

Monica speaks openly about assistive tech like Aira, the power of asking for help, and why accepting support can be an act of strength. She also shares her experience with aerial acrobatics—how it builds trust, confidence, communication, balance, and body awareness—even with vestibular challenges from Usher syndrome.

This is an episode that was so fun to do I know you will love it!

More about Monica

Monica Pruitt, 33, was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome Type 2, a rare genetic condition that causes both hearing loss and progressive vision loss at age 29. She’s worn hearing aids since toddlerhood and, with less than 20 degrees of peripheral vision, uses a white cane to navigate her world today.

Monica grew up in Maryland and earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Though she no longer works in a lab, Monica continues to explore the science of resilience, through social media and circus arts like flying trapeze and acro yoga.

Now based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Monica blends storytelling and movement to spark connection and awareness by highlighting the beauty of inclusion, adventure, and self-trust. Her experiences since her diagnosis prove that freedom doesn’t come from perfect vision, but from clear purpose.

Connect with Monica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendyblindblonde

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BendyBlindBlonde

Thanks for listening! Off The Beaten Path is brought to you by Dave Epstein and Awarewolf Gear, makers of the All Terrain Cane and the Urban Xplorer. To purchase a cane or find out more visit https://awarewolfgear.com/awghome

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Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from Sedona Dave and Awarewolf Gear: https://awarewolfgear.com/signup

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