In this episode of Off the Beaten Path, Dave sits down with Steve Baskis for a thoughtful conversation about adaptive sports, leadership, and what it takes to keep moving forward when life changes.

The discussion explores how mindset, trust, and well-designed equipment shape the way blind and low-vision individuals navigate both rugged terrain and everyday environments. Dave and Steve talk candidly about problem-solving, mentorship, and the role of movement in building confidence and resilience.

Together, they reflect on how adaptive sports create opportunities not just for physical challenge, but for leadership, teamwork, and personal growth—on the trail and beyond.

About Steve

Steve Baskis is a blind veteran, athlete, author, and founder of the Blind Endeavors Foundation. After completing Infantry Training at Fort Benning, Georgia in 2007, Steve deployed with the U.S. Army’s distinguished 4th Infantry Division, a unit with deep historical roots dating back to World War II. In 2008, while serving in Baghdad, Iraq, Steve sustained catastrophic injuries when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. The blast took his eyesight and caused extensive shrapnel injuries, hearing loss, loss of smell, and nerve damage. For his courageous service, Steve was awarded the Purple Heart Medal.

In the years following his injury, Steve rebuilt his life through movement, resilience, and purpose. More than fifteen years later, he has become a nationally recognized advocate for the blind and adaptive community. He is an accomplished athlete, having earned medals at both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, and in 2013 he received the prestigious Louis Braille Award for his contributions to the blind and visually impaired community.

Steve is the founder of Blind Endeavors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring people of all abilities to explore life through movement, leadership, and adventure. Through Blind Endeavors, Steve works in schools, military communities, and institutions across the country to promote awareness, adaptive equipment education, and bold, unconventional programs that challenge perceptions of disability.

An experienced public speaker and motivator, Steve has appeared on The Today Show, in documentaries, and at events worldwide. His adventures include hiking Kilimanjaro, cycling across the United States, kayaking the Colorado River, and summiting four of the world’s tallest peaks. Steve often says, “While I may have lost my physical ability to see, I gained a new vision for what’s possible,” a perspective that continues to inspire others to move forward—no matter the terrain.

Connect with Steve

Website: https://stevebaskis.com/

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevebaskis/

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

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, Dave sits down with Australian chef-turned-adventurer Dale Pierce, whose life took an unexpected turn after sudden vision loss in 2023. Dale shares how he moved from a 32-year culinary career into a new chapter defined by resilience, movement, and wilderness exploration.

He talks about adapting to blindness through cardio, O&M training, and eventually trail running — a journey that led him from treadmill walks to half-marathons, technical trail races, and ultimately completing the legendary Kokoda Track, one of the most demanding treks in the world.

Dave and Dale dig into cane techniques, navigation strategies, the mental challenge of moving through rugged landscapes with limited sight, and the freedom found in nature that no city environment can replicate. Dale also reflects on essential gear, working with run guides, and why embracing low vision — rather than fighting it — has opened a new sense of purpose.

It’s an inspiring conversation about grit, adaptation, and discovering what’s possible when the trail becomes your teacher.

More About Dale

Dale Pierce is a low-vision adventurer based in regional Victoria, Australia, about an hour northwest of Melbourne. Before vision loss reshaped his life, Dale spent 32 years as a chef, working across hotels and restaurants and later serving as a mentor and trainer for apprentice chefs. His background in human resources, work health and safety, and mental health informed his leadership style, allowing him to support hundreds of young chefs and help create healthier, more sustainable kitchen environments. Dale went on to run his own consulting and freelance chef business, focusing on best-practice systems and financial sustainability.

In 2023, Dale experienced sudden sight loss in both eyes due to central retinal vein occlusions, leaving him legally blind. He adapted by building his cardio fitness, immersing himself in orientation and mobility training, and eventually taking up running—progressing from treadmill workouts to outdoor parkruns and his first half marathon in 2024. Since then, he has expanded into trail running and adventuring, using a combination of all-terrain canes, hiking poles, run guides, and Meta glasses to navigate diverse terrain. In 2024, he completed the legendary Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, a 96 km trek known for its brutal elevation and historical significance.

Dale also serves on Vision Australia’s Client Reference Group, working with leadership to improve outcomes for the blind and low-vision community. He and his seeing-eye dog, Yana, have been partners for over a year and continue to grow as a team.

Connect with Dale

Instagram: @dale.pierce.967

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dale.pierce.967

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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I am so pleased to welcome Ted Tahquechi to the show!

Ted and I talk about his transition from managing game development at Atari, Accolade, and Mattel Toys to creating tactile art after losing significant vision in a car accident.

He explained how he developed a process with his wife Carrie, in partnership with the Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Art, to transform photographs into touchable artwork using texture extraction and 3D printing.

The project, which debuted at the National Federation of the Blind National Convention, aims to make art accessible to people who cannot see it, following in the spirit of Andy Warhol's philosophy of making art accessible to everyone.

This was such a great interview I am sure you will love it!

More about Ted

Ted Tahquechi spent more than two decades in the video game industry, managing the development of iconic titles at Atari, Accolade, and Mattel Toys. From producing games on the Atari Lynx and Jaguar to managing the Hot Wheels franchise at Mattel, he lived through both the chaotic charm and the caffeine-fueled crunch of early game development. His voice, sound design work, and production credits touched more than 35 titles, including fan favorites like Tempest 2000, I-War, Kasumi Ninja, and Test Drive Off-Road.

A car accident at the height of his games career changed his vision, but not his direction. With total blindness in one eye and low vision in the other, Ted rebuilt his creative world through photography. That journey led him to an unexpected frontier, tactile art. Partnering with the Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Art, Ted and his wife Carrie developed a process that transforms photographs into touchable works of art using texture extraction and 3D printing. Their tactile photographs debuted at the National Federation of the Blind national convention and have since been showcased at galleries, festivals, and accessible art events nationwide.

Today, Ted is also the voice behind BlindTravels.com, where he shares accessible travel reviews, tips, and firsthand stories for blind and low vision travelers. He speaks nationally about accessibility in art, travel, and technology, always championing the idea that creativity doesn’t end when circumstances change, it simply adapts.

Whether he’s talking retro games, exploring new cities with his guide dog Fauna, or helping others navigate the world with more confidence, Ted continues to prove that vision is far bigger than what we see.

Connect with Ted

Substack: https://substack.com/@nedskee?utm_source=global-search

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ted.tahquechi

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/nedskee.bsky.social

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

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

Follow us on Social!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awarewolfgear/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Awarewolfgear