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Central Vision Podcast

Central Vision Podcast

By: Central Vision Podcast
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Central Vision Podcast is a conversation about life through a different perspective.

Hosted by Austin and Charity, the Central Vision Podcast brings together people who are blind, have low vision, and the family members, friends, professionals, and advocates who share the journey. Through honest conversations, humor, personal stories, and practical discussions, we explore what it really means to navigate work, relationships, technology, travel, accessibility, independence, and everything in between.

Some episodes feature inspiring guests with unique experiences. Others dive into everyday challenges, awkward moments, helpful tips, or the conversations that don't happen often enough. We believe that sharing real experiences builds confidence, creates understanding, and reminds people they're not alone.

Whether you're living with vision loss, supporting someone who is, or simply want to see the world from a different perspective, there's a seat at the table.

New episodes every week.

© 2026 Central Vision Podcast Social Sciences
Episodes
  • When Life Changes Without Your Permission | A Psychologist on Mental Health & Control

    When Life Changes Without Your Permission | A Psychologist on Mental Health & Control
    20 Oct 2026

    Episode 11 - When Life Changes Without Your Permission | A Psychologist on Mental Health & Control

    “I feel like my life is hopeless and I need someone to help me not feel hopeless anymore.”

    What happens when the future you imagined starts slipping away?

    How do you accept changes you never asked for, especially when there's nothing you can do to stop them?

    And what happens when the person helping others through those struggles is still navigating them himself?

    In this episode of Central Vision Podcast, Austin and Charity welcome Chris Keemer, a psychologist living with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and nystagmus, for an honest conversation about mental health, vision loss, independence, and the complicated relationship we have with control.

    Chris began experiencing vision problems as a child, and by his teenage years, the emotional weight of his diagnosis had led him to seek therapy. That experience would eventually influence his decision to pursue psychology and dedicate his career to helping others.

    But having the professional tools to navigate life's challenges doesn't mean you're immune to experiencing them.

    Together, Austin, Charity, and Chris explore the emotional side of disability, the misconceptions surrounding mental health, and what it really means to support someone who's struggling.

    They also tackle a question that extends far beyond vision loss:

    How do you build a meaningful life when you can't control what happens next?

    You'll hear about:

    • The connection between vision loss, independence, and mental health
    • Chris's personal journey from seeking therapy to becoming a psychologist
    • Why even mental health professionals experience difficult days
    • Imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and the pressure to have everything figured out
    • The difference between genuinely supporting someone and trying to fix them
    • Unwanted advice, emotional boundaries, and compassion fatigue
    • Practical approaches to managing uncertainty, anxiety, and change

    And in true Central Vision Podcast fashion, there's plenty of humor, candid storytelling, and unexpected turns along the way.

    But at its heart, this conversation is about something nearly everyone encounters: learning to live with circumstances we didn't choose.

    Whether you're navigating vision loss, supporting someone through a difficult time, or facing an uncertain chapter of your own life, this episode offers professional insight, personal perspective, and plenty to think about.

    Because you can't always choose what happens to you. But you can learn to navigate what happens next.

    More From Our Guest: Chris Keemer:

    🎙️ A Couple of Keemers
    Check out Chris and his wife's podcast, where they share conversations and perspectives of their own.

    https://youtube.com/@acoupleofkeemers2808

    🏆 Chris's Oakland University Recognition
    In 2014, Chris received Oakland University's Human Relations Award in recognition of his contributions to mental health awareness and the university community.

    https://ucmapps.oakland.edu/NewsArchive/Data/20140509-3-students-receive-OUs-most-prestigious-honors.html



    🎙️ CENTRAL VISION PODCAST

    Website:
    https://centralvisionpodcast.com

    YouTube:
    https://youtube.com/@centralvisionpodcast

    Instagram:
    https://instagram.com/centralvisionpodcast

    Facebook:
    https://facebook.com/centralvisionpodcast

    TikTok:
    https://tiktok.com/@centralvisionpodcast


    Learn more and listen at www.centralvisionpodcast.com


    Music licensed through Soundstripe.

    Code: OLC6M9RDMQABNHKX
    Show more Show less
    55 min
  • More Than a Cane or a Guide Dog | Fear, Freedom & Finding Independence

    More Than a Cane or a Guide Dog | Fear, Freedom & Finding Independence
    13 Oct 2026
    Episode 10 — "More Than a Cane or a Guide Dog | Fear, Freedom & Finding Independence"

    “I will, for some reason, act more blind than I am.”

    Why would someone with vision loss feel the need to appear more blind when other people are watching?

    And how can something as simple as a white cane or a guide dog completely change someone's life?

    In this episode of Central Vision Podcast, Austin and Charity welcome special guest Melissa Carr for an honest, funny, and eye-opening conversation about orientation and mobility (O&M) training, guide dogs, independence, and everything that comes with learning to navigate the world differently.

    Charity and Melissa have both experienced cane and guide dog training. Austin hasn't experienced either, and he's asking the questions many people might not know to ask.

    But this isn't a technical lesson about canes or dogs. It's about the experience itself, from recognizing when you might need these tools to discovering what life looks like once you have them.

    Melissa shares how she spent years living with progressive vision loss without realizing she could even use a white cane.

    “I don't think I'm allowed to use a cane yet. I'm not blind.”

    Charity had a different experience. After years of using guide dogs, the thought of using a cane felt like taking a step backward. She worried about how others would see her and struggled with what that change meant for her identity.

    Both eventually discovered that the experiences they initially resisted could become some of the most empowering of their lives.

    But getting there wasn't always easy.

    From the emotional first days of training to the unexpected challenges of bringing home a guide dog, Charity and Melissa share what surprised them, what frustrated them, and what they wish they'd known beforehand.

    You'll hear about:

    • Knowing when you're ready for cane or guide dog training
    • Feeling like you're not “blind enough” to use a cane
    • The fears, emotions, and expectations surrounding training
    • What actually happens during O&M and guide dog training
    • How guide dogs are matched with their handlers
    • Why bringing a guide dog home is only the beginning
    • The friendships and community that can make training life-changing
    • Finding confidence and independence in unexpected ways

    And there's plenty of laughter along the way, with unexpected stories, friendly disagreements, and a few moments that prove learning something new doesn't always go according to plan.

    But beyond the training is a conversation about something nearly everyone can relate to: facing unfamiliar experiences, worrying about how others perceive us, and discovering that something intimidating can ultimately change our lives for the better.

    Because independence isn't always about doing everything alone. Sometimes it's about discovering what makes more possible.

    Whether you're considering mobility training, curious about guide dogs, experiencing vision loss, or simply interested in hearing three different perspectives, this episode offers plenty to think about.

    Sometimes the biggest step toward freedom is taking the one you've been putting off.

    🎙️ CENTRAL VISION PODCAST

    Website:
    https://centralvisionpodcast.com

    YouTube:
    https://youtube.com/@centralvisionpodcast

    Instagram:
    https://instagram.com/centralvisionpodcast

    Facebook:
    https://facebook.com/centralvisionpodcast

    TikTok:
    https://tiktok.com/@centralvisionpodcast


    Learn more and listen at www.centralvisionpodcast.com


    Music licensed through Soundstripe.

    Code: OLC6M9RDMQABNHKX
    Show more Show less
    59 min
  • Are We Actually Helping Each Other? | Support, Gatekeeping & Toxic Positivity

    Are We Actually Helping Each Other? | Support, Gatekeeping & Toxic Positivity
    6 Oct 2026
    Episode 9 — "Are We Actually Helping Each Other? | Support, Gatekeeping & Toxic Positivity"“We try not to confuse the visually impaired people with other info in the group.”Yes. Someone actually said that.In this episode, Austin and Charity take on a complicated question: What does it actually mean to support someone — and when does “helping” cross the line into deciding what another person should be allowed to see, say, feel or do?The conversation starts inside the blind and low vision community, where online groups designed to bring people together can sometimes become the very places deciding whose voices, struggles and accomplishments are allowed to be heard.Austin has some grievances.From posts being removed for “self-promotion,” to creators struggling to share what they’ve built, to people being criticized simply for talking about the difficult parts of vision loss, Austin and Charity question where the line should actually be drawn.Because there is a difference between exploiting a community and building something for one.A poem about blindness might be welcomed.A free collection of those poems might be welcomed.But put those same poems into a book and charge $9.99 — and suddenly it may be considered inappropriate promotion.The value of the work didn’t change.Money entered the conversation.And support isn't always a transaction.Sometimes it's buying something. Sometimes it's sharing it. Sometimes it's leaving a comment, celebrating what someone created or simply giving them the opportunity to show people what they've accomplished.But the conversation goes much further than creators and businesses.Austin shares a message he received from an administrator of a blind and visually impaired group explaining that they try not to share certain information because they don't want to “confuse the visually impaired people.”That raises a much bigger question:Who gets to decide what another adult is capable of understanding or choosing for themselves?From there, Austin and Charity get into another side of support that almost everyone — disabled or not — has experienced.Sometimes you don't need someone to fix your problem.Sometimes you don't need to hear that everything happens for a reason.And sometimes you definitely don't need to be told that “it could be worse.”Sometimes you just need someone willing to sit beside you while something sucks.You’ll hear about:• When moderation becomes gatekeeping• Why making money doesn't automatically invalidate something you've created• Being called a “crybaby” for talking honestly about something difficult• How one cruel comment can stop someone else from asking for help• Toxic positivity and why constantly trying to make someone feel better can actually feel dismissive• The difference between listening to someone and trying to fix them• Why everyone reaches acceptance at a different pace• Learning to support someone from where they are — not where you think they should beAustin and Charity also acknowledge something important: most people in these communities are incredibly supportive.But the loudest voices can sometimes make a space feel very different than it actually is.And when someone finally works up the courage to talk about something they're struggling with, one dismissive response can be enough to make them wonder whether they should have said anything at all.That matters far beyond blindness.The things people share publicly are often only a fraction of what they're actually experiencing privately.Support shouldn't mean telling someone how they should feel.It shouldn't mean rushing them toward acceptance.And it shouldn't mean deciding what they're capable of handling.Sometimes support is advice.Sometimes it's encouragement.Sometimes it's a share, a comment or simply showing up.And sometimes it's just saying:I hear you.Take your time.🎙️ CENTRAL VISION PODCASTWebsite:https://centralvisionpodcast.comYouTube:https://youtube.com/@centralvisionpodcastInstagram:https://instagram.com/centralvisionpodcastFacebook:https://facebook.com/centralvisionpodcastTikTok:https://tiktok.com/@centralvisionpodcastLearn more and listen at www.centralvisionpodcast.comMusic licensed through Soundstripe.Code: OLC6M9RDMQABNHKX
    Show more Show less
    54 min
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