1) Episode Summary

Penn and Moses kick off the new year with humor about “non-resolutions” and sore gym arms, then share why they’re planning a Mexico trip: they’re still grieving the loss of Penn’s guide dog, Beethoven, who passed on December 22, and they want something hopeful on the calendar.

They talk through how vision loss changes travel—starting with the planning stage. Penn explains why location matters (walkability to food, shopping, and the ocean), why she always packs a primary cane plus a backup, and how she’s thinking about bringing new tech (smart glasses) on the trip. Moses adds his essentials—hammock and ceiling fan—and they both reflect on how Mexico has changed over the years, from sleepy villages and “shacks on the beach” to today’s more built-up destinations.

A major focus is airport stress and accommodations. Penn and Moses discuss using assistance through airports (especially through TSA and confusing layouts), how different the experience can be abroad versus in the U.S., and why they don’t hesitate to ask for help. They also share a specific frustration with airline systems that charge extra to speak to a human, and they invite listeners to share travel stresses, solutions, favorite tools, and “cane debacle” stories.

They wrap with practical travel habits—researching thoroughly, reading reviews for noise issues, sticking to a budget, and choosing convenience over unnecessary expenses—plus a warm note about Valentine’s Day as a chance to love people well in many kinds of relationships.

2) Contact Info

Aftersight Feedback: feedback@aftersight.org | (720) 712-8856
Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer (Aftersight)

3) Show Credits

Hosts: Penn Street, Moses Street
Producer: Jonathan Price
Network: Aftersight

4) Chapter Markers

00:00 — Intro + Happy New Year banter and gym “non-resolutions”
02:03 — Why travel now: grief, goals, and planning a Mexico reset
04:30 — Mexico then vs. now: from sleepy villages to busy destinations
06:51 — Choosing chill: Playa del Carmen plans and “penthouse” reality check
09:19 — Travel prep with vision loss: canes, backup plans, and smart glasses
11:45 — Old-school travel memories: hammocks, rooftops, and budget lodging
14:11 — Biggest travel stress: TSA, assistance, and “using the blind card”
16:35 — Airport navigation stories: Iceland maze, Denver changes, and help lanes
18:56 — International contrast: being treated better abroad and smooth customs
20:48 — Tools and hacks: what to pack, what helps, and what listeners should share
23:11 — TSA realities: gear, clothing, and why Moses always gets searched
25:37 — Booking strategy: reviews, noise warnings, and choosing walkable locations
27:59 — Frontier nerves: cheap flights, upgraded seats, and expectations
30:24 — Money lessons: car rentals, local transit, and researching costs
32:42 — Mexico logistics: when to rent a car and how they plan movement
35:07 — Show teasers: last week’s Elise + next week’s Bethany episode
37:31 — Valentine’s Day reframed: gratitude, love, and closing invitation to write in

Episode Summary

Elise Draper joins Penn Street and Moses Street for a candid, funny, and deeply real conversation about living with progressive vision loss—and refusing to let society set the ceiling on what’s possible.

Elise shares her diagnosis (PIC), the long road through misdiagnosis, treatments, and the layered realities of chronic eye disease (including autoimmune inflammation, scarring, injections, and early-onset glaucoma). She also explains Charles Bonnet syndrome in practical terms—what it can look like, why it’s so disorienting, and why being dismissed by medical professionals can be as damaging as the symptoms themselves.

The conversation moves from the darkest seasons (depression, isolation, relationships fracturing under the strain) to rebuilding: community support, independence tools like the white cane, and a mindset shift that replaces “lowered expectations” with agency. Elise then spotlights the work she’s leading through the VIMB Creatives Workshop under the umbrella of IPub Global (iPub Cloud): creating a platform for blind and low-vision creatives to publish, get feedback, build professional skills (including resumes), and raise visibility for marginalized voices.

Contact Info

• Guest: Elise Draper — author, publisher, freelance writer; marketing director/CMO (as discussed in the episode)
• Creative Platform: VIMB Creatives Workshop (Elise notes you can find it by searching “VIMB Creatives Workshop”)
• Spotify: “VIMB Creatives Workshop” (as named in the episode)
• Aftersight: Aftersight.org
  • General contact: feedback@aftersight.org | (720) 712-8856
• Producer: Jonathan Price

Show Credits

• Hosts: Penn Street, Moses Street
• Guest: Elise Draper
• Producer: Jonathan Price
• Network: Aftersight (Aftersight Original Podcast)

Chapter Markers

• 00:00 — Show intro and welcome
• 02:19 — Elise’s name origin and pen name story
• 04:29 — Diagnosis: PIC (punctate inner choroidopathy) and current vision
• 06:51 — Life disruption, resilience, and “switching lanes”
• 11:03 — Early symptoms, misdiagnosis, and not being believed
• 13:26 — Mental health impact, sleep disruption, and depression
• 15:43 — Charles Bonnet syndrome explained (and why it gets dismissed)
• 18:04 — When it becomes unsafe: driving, vivid visuals, and the “time” moment
• 20:28 — Rebuilding independence: DVR support, mentors, and community
• 25:11 — Sheltered employment, systemic ableism, and raising the bar
• 32:28 — The white cane: stigma vs. freedom (and bruises as evidence)
• 34:55 — VIMB Creatives Workshop: what it is and who it’s for
• 39:30 — Submitting work, editing support, workshops, and author branding
• 44:20 — Accessibility hurdles in marketing and practical ways forward
• 46:43 — Elise’s recommended starting point: Free Will (2nd edition)
• 49:06 — Favorite author influence: Octavia Butler
• 51:28 — Wrap-up, gratitude, and Aftersight support message

1) Episode Summary

Penn and Moses open with a quick New Year check-in and some light banter about January weather in Colorado, then shift into the heart of the episode: grieving the sudden loss of Penn’s guide dog, Beethoven, who passed away on December 22. They reflect on what a guide dog means as a working partner and family member, and they thank the community for the wave of condolences, cards, and memorial gifts.

They also share brighter moments from the holiday break—traveling to Ouray, Colorado to spend several days with family, enjoying the hot springs, and visiting Box Canyon and its waterfall. The conversation closes with encouragement around mental health support (including therapy), staying socially connected, and a listener invitation to share New Year’s resolutions and stories with the show.

2) Contact Info

• Listener Email: contact@aftersight.org
• Producer: Jonathan Price — Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight

3) Show Credits

• Show: The Blind Chick (Aftersight Original)
• Hosts: Penn Street, Moses Street
• Producer: Jonathan Price

4) Chapter Markers

• 00:00 — Show open
• 00:29 — New Year check-in + Colorado weather
• 02:51 — Remembering Beethoven and what he meant
• 07:38 — Community support and shout-outs
• 09:54 — Ouray family trip + Box Canyon
• 14:33 — Mental health, therapy, and staying connected
• 21:46 — Resolutions invite + wrap and calls-to-action