Hello and welcome back to another episode of your favourite podcast, with three blind guys chatting about crochet... Oh, sorry, that's the other show we produce!

Welcome to Blind Guys Chat. We're ready to bring you episode 15 of our fortnightly show, but it appears that all is not well with the Blind Guys. Stuart seems stressed and anxious and, as we'll hear, he hasn't been eating or sleeping. He ended up going to confession to talk about what's on his mind.

We received an email on our last show to ask if the guys could share some of their funny travel stories. Well, ask and you shall receive, and the trio have a few funny and indeed in the case of Óran, a rather cute experience to recount. Oh, and how do the guys feel about being offered a wheelchair at airports? Do they have any tips for managing what can sometimes be a tricky and exasperating situation?

Last time Clare Whelan introduced a two-part series looking at units of measurement and what has changed in the UEB code. This time she's back to conclude that with Óran O'Neill, her second-favourite Blind Guy. There's a new kid on the block in the form of the BrailleSense 6, the latest notetaker from Selvas Healthcare in Korea, which was launched at the recent CSUN assistive technology virtual conference. Stuart gives some details and tells us how we can find out more.

Dave Nason is Accessibility Lead at Sky Ireland, and he's also one of the nicest guys you could meet. He's joining the guys to talk about a really exciting development where Sky are introducing some significant accessibility into the Sky Q box. Voice Guidance is an internal Screen Reader which can be activated from the Sky Q menu or working in tandem with Sky Q's Voice Control and existing accessibility features, Voice Guidance will make Sky Q even more accessible. Dave is here to talk about how it works and what you can do currently. If you want to know more, than sit tight, because so do Jan and Stuart. Luckily for us, Óran is a Sky Q customer, and has promised to demo this new and very exciting solution on the next show. When Dave Nason isn't working hard for Sky, he's working hard for Applevis, where he's part of their editorial team. And, he's interviewed one or two interesting people along the way.

On the last show Jan introduced us to 'Who's the Mole?', a Dutch TV show. Well, good news is that we've an update from Jan who confirms that audio description for the show is now available! Stuart has been watching 'Deadwater Fell' on All 4 and gives it a good rating, and Óran is still working through season two of 'For All Mankind'.

Clodagh is back, sounding as great as ever, and ready to read more emails. This week, Robin Christopherson, host of the very popular 'Dot to Dot' podcast, and 'The Echo Show' has been in touch. Watch this space, because Robin will be coming on the show soon. Jan gets the most fan mail of the three guys, and this week he's got another one! And, we have a nice recommendation for a coffee with chocolate and baileys. We think Stuart might test that one out soon.

Remember to keep in touch by email to [email protected] or send us a tweet @BlindGuysChat. And Clodagh is asking our listeners to record messages and send them to us so that we can play them on the show!

Welcome to episode 14 of the Blind Guys Chat podcast. Sit back and enjoy just under 54 minutes of fun, as the Blind Guys, along with Clodagh, Clare and this week's guest Roisín Lenehan keep you entertained.

On our last show we talked about the California State University (CSUN) Assistive Technology Conference, which, for the first time in its history, went virtual this year. The Blind guys, and Jan in particular, through his daily Clubhouse room, did a bit of virtual attendance. So how did it go? Did the guys find it worked well? And, if you attended, let us know how you found it as well. Oh, and speaking of CSUN and virtual conferences in general, Óran has a few thoughts on their future and in particular, how people from different time zones might be accommodated.

If the guys aren't attending virtual conferences, or watching TV, they really need to be getting out and about and taking regular exercise. In fact, over the last year many people with low or no vision have struggled to remain fit during lockdown. Well, Roisín Lenehan, a listener to the show from Mayo has been innovative enough to find a solution and has established a group who meet daily on Zoom and work out with the Body Coach Alexa skill, from Joe Wicks. Stuart caught up with Roisín to learn all about it, and, indeed he's so impressed that he's agreed to try it out and report back on his fitness or lack thereof on the next show. If you'd like to get involved and join Roisín's group, give us a shout by email and we'll happily put you in touch.

It wouldn't be a regular episode of Blind Guys Chat without our TV Corner slot, and this week, Jan has been watching a Dutch programme called 'Who's the Mole'. The concept is fascinating and we think you'll agree. Stuart has been watching 'The One', which recently landed on Netflix, but he's been somewhat upset with the choice of audio describer. Óran has a similar view, and this leads to an interesting discussion on choosing an appropriate voice to match the type of programme that's being described. What do you think?

The way in which units of measurement are represented in UEB, for example, metres, millimetres, kilometres, etc, has changed from the Standard English Braille equivalents. Clare Whelan joins Óran for the first in a two-part series of what's changed and how the new syntax is used.

After all that Braille learning it’s time for us to catch up on what you are lovely listeners have been saying. Clodagh is back to read the mail, but before that, Stuart has a quick Buymie update and Clodagh broke up with the service last week!

This week's email contributions include a recipe for Irish coffee, use of Braille and audio books, and a request for the Blind Guys to share some of their travel experiences and embarrassing stories. Watch this space for more of that on the next show.

Remember to keep in touch on Twitter @BlindGuysChat or by email to [email protected]

Welcome back, lovely listeners, to 57 minutes of madness, that is episode 13 of the Blind Guys Chat podcast. The boys are in flying form and we're delighted you can join us for another show.

If you remember on the last episode, Clodagh introduced the Blind Guys to Clubhouse, an audio-only social network. Well, the blind guys tried it out for themselves. So how did it go? And, would you like to join a Blind Guys Chat room on Clubhouse? If so, get in touch with us and keep an eye on our Twitter feed for more info.

There have been some changes in UEB relating to the use of the percent sign and some currency symbols. Clare Whelan is along for this week's braille Bite to tell us all.

The 35th CSUN Assistive Technology conference, hosted by the California State University takes place this year, as a virtual event for the first time. Virtual events definitely have some advantages, especially for people who may be restricted by travel costs, and the guys have info on how you can get free access to the virtual exhibit area.

Holly Tuke is the person behind the hugely successful Life of a Blind Girl blog and she joins the guys for a chat. If you have always wanted to set up a blog, then listen in, because Holly has some top tips to get you started!

Clodagh is here with more of your emails and, amongst the correspondence this week - what's the best way to make an Irish coffee, which apparently is Stuart's best hangover cure; a top tip from Óran on the BorrowBox library service, and an email from Roisin Lenehan, who will be joining us on the next episode of the show.

Remember, we love to hear your feedback so get in touch by email to [email protected] or on twitter to @BlindGuysChat

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.