Episodes

  • Thriving in College: Triumphs & Tips for Students with Disabilities
    Sep 14 2024

    Episode title and number:
    Thriving in College: Triumphs & Tips for Students with Disabilities 4-#8

    Summary of the show:
    In this episode of Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R., host Roberto Solis and co-host Gabby Mendonca discuss the challenges of college life for students with disabilities. They are joined by guests Alana Ambrosekia, Amy Arias, and Kira Erickson, who share their personal experiences and hurdles such as homesickness, unaccommodating professors, and accessibility issues. The conversation also touches on imposter syndrome, transportation difficulties, and transitioning from specialized schools to mainstream colleges. The episode concludes with the guests offering advice on self-advocacy and sharing their social media handles. While the sound quality is not optimal, the content remains enlightening and valuable for listeners interested in the experiences of visually impaired college students.

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    Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:
    00:00 | Introduction and Welcome
    00:48 | Meet the Hosts and Guests
    02:03 | Biggest Challenges in College
    08:14 | Imposter Syndrome Experiences
    12:22 | Transportation and Accessibility
    15:41 | Limited Edition Alert!
    16:29 | Resolving Accessibility Issues
    19:36 | Transition from School for the Blind to College
    22:12 | Social Media Handles and Farewell

    Connect with Bold Blind Beauty to learn more about our advocacy:

    • Join our Instagram community @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Subscribe to our YouTube channel @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Check out our website www.boldblindbeauty.com

    Music Credit: "Ambient Uplifting Harmonic Happy" By Panda-x-music https://audiojungle.net/item/ambient-uplifting-harmonic-happy/46309958

    Thanks for listening!❤️

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    24 mins
  • Empowering Futures: Stories of Resilience & Hope in Education
    Aug 3 2024

    Episode title and number:
    Empowering Futures: Stories of Resilience & Hope in Education 4-#7

    Summary of the show:
    Teens In Flight, led by Dr. Carol Scholz, empowers high school students with visual impairments through storytelling and real-life success stories. By using segments from Bold Blind Beauty, such as Men in Motion and Women on the Move, Dr. Scholz provides relatable narratives that inspire hope and ambition. One standout example is Gareth Brown, a 10th grader pursuing sound engineering. This initiative fosters community among students and encourages them to envision a future filled with possibilities, demonstrating that they can achieve their dreams despite their disabilities.

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    Dr. Carol Scholz Bio
    I have been an educator for more than 35 years. My experience encompasses a wide variety of jobs over the years. I earned my BS and MEd at the University of Pittsburgh and started my career as an assistant houseparent at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children. So my heart, family, and education are rooted in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania! I subsequently became a Teacher of the Visually Impaired working in PA, MA, CA, ID, TN, and now Florida, and also an Elementary Teacher in CA and ID followed by Alternate Assessment Coordinator Digital Learning Coordinator at the Idaho State Department of Education. I now work virtually as a TVI in two states ID and FL and have my own LLC En-vision Consulting!

    I have a PhD in Educational Leadership and Technology which I did not receive until I was 60! Lifetime learning and a life of service, working to make the world a better place is the key to happiness and the true joy of living. I love to learn about new technologies and work with students with visual impairments! I pray I have a positive impact on everyone, students, families, and professionals God brings into my life! I deeply appreciate the opportunity to be featured by Stephanae McCoy on Bold Blind Beauty and Teens in Flight and join her in promoting understanding and acceptance of people with differing abilities! The world is enriched by people of varying visual abilities! My favorite quote is, "Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi My message to all who read this be that change!

    Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:
    00:00 | Welcome & Introduction
    02:02 | Dr. Scholz's Journey into Education
    08:42 | The Impact of Storytelling
    12:56 | Success Stories from Students
    15:36 | Challenges and Solutions in Education
    16:56 | Save The Date
    18:33 | Assistive Technology in the Classroom
    23:11 | Conclusion and Future Aspirations

    Connect with Bold Blind Beauty to learn more about our advocacy:

    • Join our Instagram community @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Subscribe to our YouTube channel @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Check out our website www.boldblindbeauty.com

    Music Credit: "Ambient Uplifting Harmonic Happy" By Panda-x-music https://audiojungle.net/item/ambient-uplifting-harmonic-happy/46309958

    Thanks for listening!❤️

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    30 mins
  • The ADNA Explores the Entrepreneurial Journey of Bold Blind Beauty's Stephanae McCoy
    May 18 2024

    Episode title and number:
    The ADNA Explores the Entrepreneurial Journey of Bold Blind Beauty's Stephanae McCoy 4-#6

    Summary of the show:
    In this cross-promotional episode of "The ADNA Presents," Roy Samuelson speaks with special returning guest Stephanae McCoy, founder of Bold Blind Beauty. Stephanae shares her creative passion and the evolution of Bold Blind Beauty from a simple blog to a global community. She discusses the personal and technical challenges she faces as an entrepreneur with sight loss, and how storytelling has become a central focus in demystifying blindness.

    Listeners will gain insight into her self-taught skills in audio and video production, her strategic pivots, and her deep commitment to inclusivity and authentic connection. Stephanae also offers valuable advice to aspiring entrepreneurs and highlights the importance of believing in possibilities.

    Supporting Our Advocacy Work:
    ⦁Shop our online store
    ⦁Please assist us in furthering our advocacy efforts

    Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:
    00:00 | Welcome and Introduction to Stephanae McCoy
    00:11 | The Entrepreneurial Journey of Bold Blind Beauty
    01:01 | Exploring the Essence of Beauty Beyond Sight
    04:04 | The Power of Storytelling in Demystifying Blindness
    07:47 | Behind the Scenes: The Making of Bold Blind Beauty
    12:27 | The Personal Challenges of Entrepreneurship and Disability
    18:04 | The Future of Bold Blind Beauty and Final Thoughts

    Connect With Roy & Steph:

    • Website - www.roysamuelson.com
    • The ADNA Podcast - theadna.libsyn.com
    • LinkedIn - @StephanaeMcCoy

    Connect with Bold Blind Beauty to learn more about our advocacy:

    • Join our Instagram community @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Subscribe to our YouTube channel @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Check out our website www.boldblindbeauty.com

    Music Credit: "Ambient Uplifting Harmonic Happy" By Panda-x-music https://audiojungle.net/item/ambient-uplifting-harmonic-happy/46309958

    Thanks for listening!❤️

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    26 mins
  • Kamille Richardson - From Assistive Technology to Entrepreneurial Success
    May 9 2024

    Episode title and number:
    Kamille Richardson - From Assistive Technology to Entrepreneurial Success 4-#5

    Summary of the show:
    Dr. Kamille Richardson shares her journey from massage therapist to founder of iSee Technologies, Inc., focusing on access, independence, and employment for people with visual impairments. She discusses challenges, authenticity, resilience, and hiring individuals with disabilities, offering advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Also included are tips for spring and summer hairstyles.

    Supporting Our Advocacy Work:
    ⦁Shop our online store
    ⦁Please assist us in furthering our advocacy efforts

    Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:
    00:00 | Welcome to Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R.
    00:38 | Introducing Dr. Kamille Richardson: From Assistive Technology to Entrepreneurship
    02:12 | Kamille's Journey: Overcoming Challenges & Embracing Entrepreneurship
    06:30 | Empowering Others: Kamille's Mission & Business Highlights
    08:47 | Beauty Byte: Spring & Summer Hair Trends Inspired by Coachella
    11:09 | Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs & Kamille's Future Vision
    13:52 | The Importance of Hiring People with Disabilities
    16:29 | Final Thoughts & Where to Find Kamille

    Connect With Kamille:
    Website - iseetechinc.com
    LinkedIn - iSeeTechnologies
    LinkedIn - @Dr.KamilleRichardson
    Instagram - @kamillealia
    Women On The Move - Kamille Richardson Shapes Inclusive Future

    Connect with Bold Blind Beauty to learn more about our advocacy:

    • Join our Instagram community @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Subscribe to our YouTube channel @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Check out our website www.boldblindbeauty.com

    Music Credit: "Ambient Uplifting Harmonic Happy" By Panda-x-music https://audiojungle.net/item/ambient-uplifting-harmonic-happy/46309958

    Thanks for listening!❤️

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    18 mins
  • Replay: A Podcast Takeover with Bold Blind Beauty's Rising Stars
    Apr 7 2024

    Episode title and number: Replay: A Podcast Takeover with Bold Blind Beauty's Rising Stars 4-#4

    Summary of the show:
    In this special 'replay' edition of the Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R. Podcast, interns take over to share their fresh perspectives and journey through the world of demystifying blindness, beauty, accessibility, and inclusivity. Featuring Dana Hinnant, Beauty Editor of Bold Blind Beauty, the episode explores the intersection of beauty with accessibility, the importance of representation, and pathways for people with disabilities in all industry levels.

    Co-hosts Ryan Maxwell, Christine Barosi, and Marta DeVito, delve into their backgrounds and aspirations, contributing to a conversation that highlights the significance of beauty for everyone, including individuals with visual impairments. Dana shares her sight loss journey, the challenges and triumphs of pursuing a career in the beauty industry as a visually impaired individual, and discusses the evolving recognition of blind and visually impaired women in beauty and makeup. The episode also covers natural skin care methods and the role of beauty in self-esteem and representation.

    Supporting Our Advocacy Work:
    ⦁Shop our online store
    ⦁Assist us in furthering our advocacy efforts

    Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:
    00:00 | Welcome to the Replay Edition!
    01:51 | Intern Takeover
    02:28 | Meet the Interns: Diverse Backgrounds, United by Passion
    05:37 | A Beauty Editor's Journey
    06:06 | Breaking Barriers in Beauty
    11:12 | Empowerment Through Beauty
    13:42 | Natural Skincare Tips from an Expert
    15:32 | Supporting Bold Blind Beauty's Mission
    16:27 | Wrapping Up

    Connect with Bold Blind Beauty to learn more about our advocacy:

    • Join our Instagram community @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Subscribe to our YouTube channel @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Check out our website www.boldblindbeauty.com

    Music Credit: "Ambient Uplifting Harmonic Happy" By Panda-x-music https://audiojungle.net/item/ambient-uplifting-harmonic-happy/46309958

    Thanks for listening!❤️

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    17 mins
  • Breaking Barriers in Beauty: A Conversation with Robin Shum of Estée Lauder
    Mar 8 2024

    Episode title and number: Breaking Barriers in Beauty: A Conversation with Robin Shum of Estée Lauder 4-#3

    Summary of the show:
    This episode of Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R. celebrates International Women's Day by featuring Robin Shum from Estée Lauder who discusses the groundbreaking voice-enabled makeup assistant. Aimed at breaking barriers and fostering inclusivity in the beauty industry, this tool is designed for individuals on the blindness spectrum, enabling them to apply makeup confidently and independently. The show delves into the development process, challenges faced, and the impact of the tool on accessibility and inclusion. Furthermore, it highlights Estée Lauder's commitment to inclusivity and advice for other companies on enhancing accessibility in their products or services.

    Supporting Our Advocacy Work:
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    Robin Shum's Bio:
    Robin Shum is an Inclusive Technology product manager on the Innovation and Emerging Technologies team at the Estée Lauder Companies. With a background in Linguistics and Technological Systems Management, she sits at the intersection of technology and inclusive design. Currently, as the Product Owner of the Voice-enabled Makeup Assistant, ELC’s first app that makes beauty more accessible for the Blind and low-vision community, Robin merges thoughtful co-creation with championing digital accessibility. She is passionate about the future of inclusive design and accessibility in the beauty industry.

    Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:
    00:00 | Introduction to Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R.
    00:42 | Celebrating International Women's Day with Robin Shum
    01:40 | The Inspiration Behind the Voice-enabled Makeup Assistant
    05:00 | Challenges and Learnings in Developing the Makeup Assistant
    07:19 | Dana's Beauty Byte
    08:52 | Collaboration with the Blind Community
    12:11 | Advice for Enhancing Inclusivity in Products and Services
    14:47 | The Future of Inclusive Technology in the Beauty Industry
    15:26 | Availability of the Voice-enabled Makeup Assistant
    16:06 | Connecting with Robin Shum
    16:22 | Closing Remarks and Thanks

    Connect with Bold Blind Beauty to learn more about our advocacy:

    • Join our Instagram community @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Subscribe to our YouTube channel @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Check out our website www.boldblindbeauty.com

    Music Credit: "Ambient Uplifting Harmonic Happy" By Panda-x-music https://audiojungle.net/item/ambient-uplifting-harmonic-happy/46309958

    Thanks for listening!❤️

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    18 mins
  • Love Beyond Sight Featuring Kiran Kaja
    Feb 2 2024

    Episode title and number: Love Beyond Sight Featuring Kiran Kaja 4-#2

    Summary of the show:
    In this episode of Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R., hosts Stephanae McCoy, Dana Hinnant, Nasreen Bhutta, and Sylvia Stinson-Perez have a thought-provoking conversation with Kiran Kaja about his experiences dating as a congenitally blind man. He shares interesting insights into utilizing dating apps without visual cues and debunks societal misconceptions about blindness and dating. He also provides valuable advice and tips for other visually impaired individuals navigating the dating scene. This episode offers an opportunity to challenge stereotypes, encouraging greater understanding, empathy, and inclusivity.

    Supporting Our Advocacy Work:
    ⦁Shop our online store
    ⦁Join us in advancing our advocacy efforts!

    Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:
    00:06 | Introduction and Episode Overview
    02:23 | Meet the Guest: Kiran Kaja
    05:38 | Navigating the World of Dating Apps
    11:09 | Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R. Podcast Promotion
    12:04 | Addressing Stereotypes and Misconceptions
    15:09 | Building Connections and Communication Strategies
    20:38 | Dana's Beauty Byte
    22:40 | Advice for Visually Impaired Individuals in the Dating Scene
    26:33 | Connecting with Kiran Kaja
    28:05 | Closing Remarks and Episode Wrap-up

    Bio:
    Kiran is a blind tech professional working as a Principal Product Manager at Amazon. He lives in Berkeley, California with his 2-year-old golden retriever Seeing Eye dog who is coincidentally named India. He grew up in India but travelled to over 50 countries and lived in the UK and the US in his career. In his free time, Kiran likes to hike, go on tandem bike rides, and work on his model railroad layout.

    Connect with Bold Blind Beauty to learn more about our advocacy:

    • Join our Instagram community @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Subscribe to our YouTube channel @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Check out our website www.boldblindbeauty.com

    Music Credit: "Ambient Uplifting Harmonic Happy" By Panda-x-music https://audiojungle.net/item/ambient-uplifting-harmonic-happy/46309958

    Thanks for listening!❤️

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    29 mins
  • Embrace Your Boldness: Messages of Resilience & Authenticity for 2024
    Jan 5 2024

    Episode title and number:
    Embrace Your Boldness: Messages of Resilience & Authenticity for 2024. 4-#1

    Summary of the show:

    The hosts of 'Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R.'— Stephanae McCoy, Dana Hinnant, Nasreen Bhutta, and Sylvia Stinson-Perez; welcome listeners to a special New Year episode. They reflect on the past year's difficulties and share their hopes for 2024. Each co-host offers empowering messages emphasizing the importance of celebrating individual achievements, advocating for disability rights, living an authentic life, and recognizing inherent self-worth despite any challenges. They speak about their aspirations for the year ahead for the 'Bold Blind Beauty' platform and emphasize the mission of advocating for A.I.R. (Access, Inclusion, and Representation).

    Supporting Our Advocacy Work:
    ⦁Shop our online store
    ⦁Assist us in furthering our advocacy efforts

    Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:
    00:00 Introduction and Welcome
    00:23 Reflections on the Past Year and Future Aspirations
    01:26 Personal Empowerment Messages: Nasreen's Message
    02:03 Personal Empowerment Messages: Stephanae's Message
    04:35 Personal Empowerment Messages: Dana's Message
    04:57 Personal Empowerment Messages: Sylvia's Message
    07:16 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

    Connect with Bold Blind Beauty to learn more about our advocacy:

    • Join our Instagram community @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Subscribe to our YouTube channel @BoldBlindBeauty
    • Check out our website www.boldblindbeauty.com

    Music Credit: "Ambient Uplifting Harmonic Happy" By Panda-x-music https://audiojungle.net/item/ambient-uplifting-harmonic-happy/46309958

    Thanks for listening!❤️

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    8 mins