Welcome to episode 12! Last time we mentioned that the Blind Guys were recording in their thermal underwear, but this time they’re in shorts and t-shirts and Jan is reporting a 25°C increase in temperature in the Netherlands. Oh, and if you wondered about the strange voice opening the show, Óran is auditioning for a new identity. We think we like it better than his own one!

We’re getting used to what is becoming the BuyMie saga and Stuart has yet a further update on the long road to accessibility for this home shopping app.

In the last two episodes of the show, Clare Whelan was explaining how Italics and Bold Braille signs have been implemented in UEB, and this week she’s back to conclude this miniseries, by talking about the Underline symbol.

We’ve expanded the popular TV corner segment to also cover books. Stuart has binge-watched the entire series of ‘Behind her Eyes’ on Netflix and Óran is thoroughly enjoying season 2 of ‘For All Mankind’ on Apple TV. Óran is also trying to find four of the remaining books in the Jack Reacher series. We discuss a couple of resources including your local public library and the Calibre Audio Library service in the UK, which is free to join. Jan and Stuart have interesting observations on reading Braille books as opposed to audio, and when one might be used over the other. What do you think? Let us know - [email protected].

This week’s guest needs virtually no introduction within Ireland anyhow. Luke O’Neill is professor of biochemistry at the School of Biochemistry and Immunology in Trinity College Dublin, and has become a household name over the last year with his regular media commentary on the Covid-19 virus and the hope that vaccines are bringing to us all. Luke joins the guys for a chat and Clodagh is here to read some emails we received for Luke. Oh, and just in case you are wondering, Luke likes the Blind Guys vaccination programme! We're extremely grateful to Luke for his time and reassurance, and we hear that perhaps Jan might be in Dublin buying Luke a pint next year!

When Stuart was a young pup in school, the clubhouse was the name of the little shop where everyone bought their chocolate and all those things that we really shouldn’t be eating before our dinner, but Clubhouse means something very different now, and Clodagh is here to introduce this brand new audio-only social network. What do the Blind Guys think, and, would you join a Blind Guys Chat room on Clubhouse?

We have time for two quick emails, and we’re delighted to share a link about audio description on YouTube which might help Cian - one of our listeners.

Remember, the Blind Guys always love your feedback, so get in touch by email to [email protected] or by tweeting @BlindGuysChat. Looking forward to chatting again in two weeks time.

Welcome to episode 11 of the Blind Guys Chat podcast!

The weather outside is frightful, and, while snow falls in Ireland and the Netherlands, the blind guys put on their thermal underwear to bring you this packed edition of our regular fortnightly show. Speaking of snow, Jan has plenty of it in the Netherlands and even gives us a quick weather report!

Stuart is continuing his advocacy work with the BuyMie online shopping service, and we have a positive update on changes coming soon to their mobile app.

Ever wondered about showing bolded text in UEB? Well, wonder no more, because Clare Whelan is back with another Braille bite to tackle this very issue.

Apple recently released the latest update to their mobile operating system. iOS 14.4 however, has introduced a couple of problems for users of the latest Humanware Braille devices. We know that Humanware and Apple are working as hard as they can to fix these issues, but nevertheless, there's been quite a bit of discontent amongst the blind community. So what do the blind guys think of all this wrangling?

We're beyond thrilled to welcome this episode's special guest. Sabriye Tenberken is a co-founder of Braille Without Borders, and now co-directs the Kanthari International Institute for Social Change. The Institute in Kerala, South India, fosters participants from all over the world, who have a passion to make the world a better place and have the strength to be forces of good rather than victims of circumstance.

We always love to hear from our listeners, and your email is the high point of the show. But email needs a reader and there's none better than our Clodagh. This week, we're talking about challenges with home shopping delivery drivers, audio description and how it impacts sighted viewers, and a recommendation from a listener for a show called 'Death to 2020' on Netflix. Speaking of recommendations, Stuart has been watching 'it’s a Sin' on All Four. It’s an incredibly thought-provoking drama series, and, while its not an easy watch, it is worth every minute you'll spend viewing it.

Finally, the blind guys have a very special guest on the next show. If you want to know who that is, you'll have to stay listening to the very end!

Please make sure to get in touch by email to [email protected] or on Twitter @BlindGuysChat

Welcome lovely listener, to episode 10 of the Blind Guys Chat podcast!

We're in double digits, so you'd expect the podcast, and more particularly the podcast hosts to be growing up, but fear not, the guys are just the same as ever!

We've had some interesting feedback to our vaccine question from episode 9, and many people agree that Blind Guys should be bumped up the queue. The Guys have also been preparing their own self-vaccination routines, and Jan in particular has been practicing with an orange! Stuart is offering vaccinations at €7.50 per shot, and you even get a free lunch while you wait!

If you've watched the news in the last few days you'll know that the Netherlands have introduced a nightly curfew to try to curve the spread of Covid-19. Jan tells us a bit about what's going on, and, we ask if Jan driving his tractor qualifies as an essential worker?

We've talked previously about the BuyMie app on the show, and the significant accessibility and usability problems that the app presents. Stuart has been in touch with the app designers and there may be some hope for future updates. If you have challenges using the BuyMie app, please get in touch with us and we'll pass on the feedback.

One of the big changes in Unified English Braille (UEB) has been the introduction of additional formatting marks to represent bold and underline, as well as italics, which already existed in SEB. In the first of a three-part slot, Stuart talks to Clare Whelan about new rules to govern the use of italics.

Our guest this week is the wonderful Jenny Axler, living and working in the city of Daejeon in South Korea. Jenny moved from the US seven years ago. We ask her what's life like living in Korea when you're blind? And, who can win Jenny's true or false quiz?

As always, with not much else to do in the evenings, the Blind Guys have taken to watching TV. Stuart is watching season 2 of Servant on the Apple TV platform. Speaking of Apple TV, if you're enjoying one of their free subscriptions at present, that subscription is likely to be extended at no additional cost. Óran has been enjoying a show called Goliath on Amazon Prime.

Clodagh is back to read more emails and we're talking electric vehicles, online and curb-side shopping services in the US, and, the availability of long canes from Svárovskký, in the Czech Republic. If you'd like to find out more about these canes, which all three Blind Guys love, you can email [email protected]

Don't forget to keep in touch with us, either on twitter by tagging @BlindGuysChat or by email to [email protected]

Happy new year from the Blind Guys and welcome to episode 9 of our podcast!

Clare Whelan and her Braille Bite have been the most talked about item of the show so far, garnering quite a bit of fan mail along the way. Clare couldn't be with us for our Christmas special so she's joined the guys for the start of the show, and we hear some of Clare's plans for the next couple of Braille Bite segments.

We've all been looking with much hope and excitement to the year ahead, especially when we hear about the successful roll-out of a number of Covid-19 vaccines around the world, but should people who are blind and vision impaired be moved up the queue so that they might get vaccinated a little more quickly? Stuart throws out the question and it looks like the Blind Guys wouldn't mind doing some self-vaccination live on the show, what do you think?

Jan introduces us to his friend, David Renstrom, who is living and working in northern Sweden. David typically endures temperatures well below zero degrees celsius during the winter and has become expert at navigating with his long cane in heavy snow.

Clodagh is back to read your email and we're talking about learning Braille with deteriorating vision and some thoughts from the guys on starting mobility training with long canes.

Óran recently switched his TV provider to Sky. The experience has been hugely positive and he tells us more. If that wasn't enough, Stuart was so inspired by his move that he wrote a parody song all about it, and this plays us out.

Until next time, stay safe and please get in touch by email to [email protected] or tweet us @BlindGuysChat with your comments.

Welcome to the Christmas 2020 bumper edition of the BlindGuysChat podcast. We’re back, and all feeling merry and happy, as we take you with us for what is a longer than normal show, so be warned!

You’ll be familiar, if you listen regularly, with the warm female voiceover at the start of each of our shows, welcoming you in and introducing the Blind Guys. Well, that’s the voice of the lovely Jan Ní Fhlanagáin, and she’s come along this week to hang out with the Blind Guys, along with Clodagh, who has joined us for the entire show!

Now, just to add to the confusion that is the BlindGuysChat, our own Jan (pronounced Yan) and our guest Jan, spell their names the same, but of course they are pronounced differently; So what happens when Jan meets Yan?

As well as finding out a little about Jan and her wonderful ‘You OK?’ podcast, we play Jan and Jan’s true or false game, with Clodagh keeping an eye on the scores. Óran and Stuart battle it out and these guys, it turns out, are rather competitive!

We had a few listeners asking about Christmas traditions in the Netherlands and who better to ask to tell us more than Jan himself!

Christmas is always a time for flaking out in front of the TV, and Óran and Clodagh are recommending the West Wing, a show that while it does not have audio description, should be very easy to follow. Stuart’s going to check it out and will report back. Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ has a number of audio described movies showing over the festive season and Óran highlights a few for us.

We’d been hearing for a while about the Spinrockers, a group from the Texas School for the Blind. Well, it turns out they are ultra-cool and they’ve been doing some really innovative things to help people learn keyboard shortcuts, by making up very catchy songs! They’re here to hang out with us and have a chat.

The whole team have been on tenterhooks since the start of the show, waiting for a phone call from the North Pole. When it comes, well, just keep listening to find out what happens when we’re joined on the show by Santa himself.

This episode is also peppered with some lovely Christmas greetings from some of our previous guests, and we thank them very much for their very kind words.

Finally, a BlindGuysChat episode would not be complete without Clodagh’s emails, complete with a new jingle!

BlindGuysChat returns on January 13th and in the meantime, we wish you a happy, peaceful and safe Christmas, and a much brighter and happier new year. Thanks for listening!

Welcome back and thank you for tuning into episode 7 of Blind Guys Chat.

Christmas is very definitely in the air on this week's show and the guys are thinking of gift ideas. Not sure if they're buying for each other, or just throwing out suggestions, but regardless, we hope you may find something of interest from their selection.

Jan recently invested in Sonos speakers and is very impressed. Stuart is exploring the world of Android accessibility and Oran loves his Apple TV.

Staying on an Apple-related topic, the recent launch of the iPhone 12 mini, 12 PRO and 12 PRO Max has stirred up a lot of interest as you might expect. We asked friends of the show, Brian Dalton and Derry Lawlor, who are the lucky owners of these devices, to join us and give us the lowdown.

The Blind Guys are loving 'The Crown' on Netflix, and everyone agrees that the audio description is particularly good.

Eric Damery is Vice President of Software Product Management at Vispero and something of a legend in his own lunchtime in the Assistive Technology industry. With a career spanning well over 25 years in the sector, Eric joins us to talk about some of the high points, and, Eric challenges the Blind Guys to a bit of fun in our "True or False" game!

Clodagh has returned with your emails and this time we've received more feedback on the Buymie service, Christmas gift ideas for Larry and Sjef and, what's this about Stuart having made contact with the North Pole?

Greetings Blind Guys Chatters! ..that's what we call you, our loyal and ever-growing band of listeners!

The Blind Guys are thrilled to release episode 6 of our little show and we've just under an hour's entertainment waiting for you.

Online shopping, or challenges around accessing it, is often a conversation that exercises many blind and low vision people. This week, Stuart is talking about a relatively new service on the scene called Buymie. It’s not all sweets and roses however, as the service, via its mobile app, has some serious accessibility issues. So if it’s that challenging, are the Blind Guys using it?

Clare Whelan returns for another Braille Bite, and if you've been confused about the use of brackets in UEB, then fear not, because Clare will put your world to right.

Stuart is immersing himself in season 4 of The Crown and is loving it thus far, and Óran is recommending a show called 'Little Fires Everywhere' on Amazon Prime, but is the audio description up to the job?

We meet Lenore Good, who is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime - she is preparing to climb Kilimanjaro, all to support the wonderful work of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, Shine Centre for Autism and Sonas Junior Special Primary School. Please support Lenore by visiting her fundraising page.

Finally, Clodagh is back with more emails, and a particularly interesting query about whether paper or Refreshable Braille is easier to read as a Braille beginner.

Please don't forget to share this podcast with your friends, and we would love it if you'd submit a review on our podcast via your favourite podcasting platform. Thank you!

Contact the Blind Guys at [email protected], or find them on Twitter - @BlindGuysChat. You can also subscribe to their mailing list to find out about new and upcoming shows: tinyurl.com/BlindGuysChat.

Hello faithful listeners, and of course those who are joining us for the first time. It’s a bumpy ride, so fasten your seatbelts!

This week, Óran regales us with the antics of his guide dog, Larry, who wanted to do his own bit of trick or treating for Halloween, and why not!

Stuart has a free and very powerful tool to keep all your passwords safe and secure for those who use any apple devices.

Clare Whelan is back to talk sequencing in UEB. If you don't what that is, don't worry, we didn't either!

We meet Otis Stroup from Baltimore, who talks amongst other things about accessible voting in the US, how music has been central in his life and how it’s not just guide dogs that are impacted by Halloween-related noises!

Stuart binge watched Netflix's Bly Manor and has completely reversed his opinion of that show since our last episode.

Clodagh is back to read more email, and the guys talk accessible emoji, stickers in messages, we give a big thumbs up to the Queen's Gambit on Netflix and, who wants some Blind Guys Chat Merchandise?

Please don't forget to share this podcast with your friends, and we would love it if you'd submit a review on our podcast via your favourite podcasting platform. Thank you!

Contact the Blind Guys at [email protected], or find them on Twitter - @BlindGuysChat. You can also subscribe to their mailing list to find out about new and upcoming shows: tinyurl.com/BlindGuysChat.

Welcome back to another hour of madness that is the Blind Guys Chat!

Just when you thought Stuart's fridge/freezer problems were finally sorted there's another twist in the tale. We meet Ulla Quayle, a guide dog user from Dublin, who shares how on-going disturbances caused by bangers and fireworks have had a detrimental impact on her dog. Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind want to hear your experiences of pre-Halloween bangers and the impact it has on your dog. Please complete their survey and have your voice heard.

The guys have a few recommendations for things to check out on Netflix and Apple TV, including 'The Haunting of Bly Manor' and 'Little Voice'.

Clare Whelan is back for another Braille Bite, and this week, we're talking about the removal of the dot 6 N and Y contractions, as well as discussing the recent ICEB 7th General assembly.

The Blind Guys want to visit the moon and we wonder if there's WiFi readily available; and do the guys think that it could be time to switch to Android?

Clodagh is back to read more emails, and we have feedback from contributors in Dublin and the United States of America!

Please don't forget to share this podcast with your friends, and we would love it if you'd submit a review on our podcast via your favourite podcasting platform. Thank you!

Contact the Blind Guys at [email protected], or find them on Twitter - @BlindGuysChat. You can also subscribe to their mailing list to find out about new and upcoming shows: tinyurl.com/BlindGuysChat.

Welcome to another instalment of Blind Guys Chat. The Blind Guys are in top form once again, and Jan loves the Autumnal weather!

On this episode we’re meeting Robbie Forde from Dublin, who amongst other things, has been doing stand-up comedy and motivational speaking, proving that while he may be blind, he most certainly has vision.

Stuart had an incident recently where his fridge freezer stopped working, and he tells the other Blind Guys all about it.

Clare Whelan is back to talk lower J and the old BLE sign in our Braille Bite, and we preview the 7th General Assembly of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB), which takes place later in the month.

Finally, it wouldn’t be a Blind Guys Chat episode without Clodagh, who is back to read more emails this week, complete with her own brand new jingle!

Please don't forget to share this podcast with your friends, and we would love it if you'd submit a review on our podcast via your favourite podcasting platform. Thank you!

Contact the Blind Guys at [email protected], or find them on Twitter - @BlindGuysChat. You can also subscribe to their mailing list to find out about new and upcoming shows: tinyurl.com/BlindGuysChat.