On our last podcast, Óran and Stuart were having a moan about how inaccessible LinkedIN is, well… their opinion might be about to change as we have Aaron Linson who joins us from Kentucky with plenty of tips and tricks you can use with LinkedIN. Aaron is a recruiter, and hosts his own podcast ‘AbilityCast’ which you can find here: https://anchor.fm/abilitycast. Not only that, but he is also a fantastic musician. Óran has news on how to spend 2 hours of your life. He recently logged an AirPod issue with Apple. During the 2 hour conversation, he managed to get the accessibility desk assistant a promotion. What…? Of course the Blind Guys are talking about the weather as usual, and Jan is telling us how bad the recent storms damaged in his part of the world. Spoiler alert, does anyone need some roof tiles? In TV Corner, Stuart tells us about The Tinder Swindler - isn’t that Stuart’s favourite app? Clodagh has emails from Derry, Dave & Saleem. The latter two have some views on LinkedIN, Revolut and also why your COVID cert's QR code can’t be scanned in Apple Wallet. Also Erica has a question about the Bradley Watch https://www.eone-time.com/ Guess who has one? Óran, of course. So, brush those fallen branches off the couch. Let your dog chew away on those new pair of Manolo Blahniks, sit back and listen to the most root'n toot'n, handy dandy podcast in the world: Blind Guys Chat. Don’t forget: •             Please rate and review us on your chosen podcasting platform. •             We'd love to know what you'd like us to talk about in upcoming shows; send us your suggestions by email: [email protected] •             Don't forget you can send us your Blindie Tips and other thoughts by email also on [email protected] (bonus points for voice messages!) •             If you want to support the podcast, you can treat the Blind Guys to a coffee by clicking the link below!

Support Blind Guys Chat by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/blind-guys-chat

It’s a packed Blind Guys Chat this week as the guys are talking everything from glaciers to tech.

We begin with a sad story, spoiler alert, it’s not really too sad. Jan, has had to cancel his winter skiing trip in Germany because the Germans won’t let him into the country until he has had 3 vaccinations. But there is good news for Jan’s guide dog Geoff, as he is getting to spend time with his bitch next door while the wooden floors are installed at home.

Stuart and Óran are mystified as to why ‘LinkedIN’ is clunky and quite inaccessible to screen readers given that it is owned by Microsoft. Have you got any suggestions for the guys when using the ‘LinkedIN’ application?

Stuart regresses to his childhood when we give a demo of the ‘Walkie Talkie’ app on Apple Watch. It’s really cool. But Jan prefers his beautiful Tissot Silent watch which indicates time via vibrations. You can pick one up here if you’re loaded like Jan: weirandsons.ie/gents-tissot-silent-alarm-watch.html

Meanwhile, Óran wants to know why anyone would choose to set up a Revolut bank account. Is it just a fad? Let us know your thoughts.

Finally, Clodagh has an email from Claire Page about AD and Derry is giving us a quick demo of the Alexa app for desktop.

So, throw that Antigen test into your neighbour’s garden, turn off the spin cycle on the washing machine, pour yourself a nice fruity beer and enjoy the number one podcast as voted by garden gnomes … Blind Guys Chat!

Don’t forget: • Please rate and review us on your chosen podcasting platform. • We'd love to know what you'd like us to talk about in upcoming shows; send us your suggestions by email: [email protected] • Don't forget you can send us your Blindie Tips and other thoughts by email also on [email protected] • If you want support the podcast, you can treat the Blind Guys to a coffee by clicking the link below!

Over and out, Rubber Duckie!

Support Blind Guys Chat by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/blind-guys-chat

As we begin to head out of winter the Blind Guys Chat office is on fire. This episode could almost be called a ‘Rant Special’. After eventually receiving his Apple Airpods, Stuart was raging because not only were the earbuds too big for his little tiny ears, but the left one was not charging correctly. What was Stuart to do? Spoiler alert, he returned them. But that’s not the end of the story. Meanwhile, Óran has received his new iPhone 11. What does he think of ‘Face ID’? Can he survive without a home button? And what is Rose Gold? Kieran Lynch is here to talk about an audio description research project he is working on. Do you want to help? Well click here to fill out the survey questions. It will only take about 10 minutes. https://forms.office.com/r/fkJ5U6tKWi Óran is continuing his rant about bad audio description and he has some examples for the guys to listen to. Will you agree with his observations? Clodagh’s here with emails. What is your feeling on asking for help? Let us know [email protected]. So, strip off those thermal vests, shake your fist at winter, and say hello to spring with the number 1 podcast on Venus… … Blind Guys Chat! Don’t forget: •             Please rate and review us on your chosen podcasting platform. •             We'd love to know what you'd like us to talk about in upcoming shows; send us your suggestions by email: [email protected]. •             Don't forget you can send us your Blindie Tips and other thoughts by email also: [email protected]. •             If you want, you can treat the Blind Guys to a coffee by clicking the link below!

Support Blind Guys Chat by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/blind-guys-chat

It’s our first show of 2022 and the Blind Guys are raring to go. Stuart’s facelift (to his apartment) is done and dusted, and Jan’s kids are happy kicking football against their walls until the concrete is fully dried out.

You know how we can't shut up about the weather? Well, this week the Blind Guys are talking to Professor John Sweeney about all things climate. Prof. Sweeney is an expert in the field of climatology and is here to dispel the myth that the Dolphins are responsible for climate change, although Óran is not convinced. John tells us how each individual can help fight climate change for the benefit of all of humanity.

Stuart & Óran give us their views on the Apple Airpods generation 3 - spoiler alert: Santa is in trouble with Óran. And TV Corner is back with some good recommendations of movies and television series with audio description (AD).

We got an email from Derry which ignites the fuse on a sensitive topic for Óran - the AD on the TV programme ‘Succession’. Yes, Óran is on his high-horse again and this time he ain’t coming off it no matter how hard the Guys pull!

So, stop worrying about that impending credit card bill, chuck the Christmas tree into next door's garden, polish off the Christmas pudding while chilling out with Blind Guys Chat. It’s more fun than you can shake a stick at!

• We welcome your views on the podcast - please rate and review us on your chosen podcasting platform. • We'd love to know what you'd like us to talk about in upcoming shows; send us your suggestions by email: [email protected]. • Don't forget you can send us your Blindie Tips and other thoughts by email also: [email protected]. • If you want, you can treat the Blind Guys to a coffee!

Support Blind Guys Chat by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/blind-guys-chat

It’s our last Blind Guys Chat episode for the year and what better way to finish 2021 than having some of our listeners and guests all on the show. We’ve got representation from the US of A, Scotland, South Africa and even County Mayo this week. The Blind Guys have cooked up what they consider to be The Best Christmas Quiz in the Galaxy, which includes questions on London buses, and ham & cheese toasties. And our very special guest tells us which Blind Guys Chat jingle he prefers, spoiler alert, it’s not Stuart’s! Yes, Santa says hello to all the boys and girls (especially Stuart’s son Adam and Jan’s kids Rosalie and Tycho). Santa tells us about what he has been up to all year, and asks Tycho to help him get the reindeer up to speed for the big night. So, step out of the kitchen for a while, let that turkey prepare its own stuffing, pull up an Elf reclining chair and prepare to get snuggly & warm with the most awesome, Chris-tastic Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious podcast in this parallel universe. Blind Guys Chat. PS: Happy hoo-ha!

It’s almost our last episode of 2021 and what a year it has been. 2 of the Blind Guys once again have drama in their lives as both Stuart and Jan have the builders in, renovating their very plush and velvety residences. Jan’s ground floor is now so level you could play snooker on it but unfortunately Stuart’s place still needs painting and tiling before he can take a shower.

We are talking with Ken Brandt author of ‘Positive Vision: Enjoying the Adventures and Advantages of Poor Eyesight’ (https://www.amazon.com/Positive-Vision-Enjoying-Adventures-Advantages/dp/0648762505). Hold onto your seats, folks, this guy likes to dive bomb when flying an aircraft.

The Blind Guys are wondering if they should go to Africa and help distribute vaccinations, and will Stuart bring the Ham & Cheese sambos?

Gary from South Africa has sent a message on why he is worried about getting the vaccination, and another listener wants to know if Stuart is a priest? Huh!! Spoiler alert: he’s not!

Now, to the hottest ticket in town: We’d love to invite you to come along to our Christmas party on December 18 at 8pm GMT. It’s a virtual get-together and we’re planning to have the usual mad banter and laughs. It’s a BYOG gig - bring your own gargle. Can you email [email protected] to confirm you’re attending, and use this link to join: tinyurl.com/BlindGuysParty. You never know who might show up… Ho Ho Ho.

So, hike your trousers up good and tight, ladies and gentlemen, we don’t want any builders arse crack exposed. Pour yourself a glass of egg nog and settle down by the fire to listen to this week’s episode of Blind Guys Chat.

Yes folks, it’s time for another brilliant episode of Blind Guys Chat. This week the Blind Guys are out of the gate faster than a greyhound on smack because they have a bee in their bonnet about the latest COVID-19 variant and the protests happening in the Netherlands. Have you got a good argument for not taking the vaccine? Well, we want to hear from those of you who think it’s all a load of codswallop. Stuart is going to give us a demo of his Alexa routine which he has set up to keep him warm and snug. Spoiler alert: he is too lazy to switch the heating on himself. Jan and Óran attempt to do a demo with Stuart on FaceTime sharing, but guess what? It’s a load of hooey and they can’t be bothered to subscribe to Apple music just to listen to Stuart’s spangley showtunes. Clodagh is here with emails. Will there be a Blindie tip? Will we get to hear the Blindie tip jingle again? The suspense is killing us. And finally, are you interested in joining the Blind Guys for an online Christmas show? Email us and we’ll put you on the guest list. So, quit trying to unravel those Christmas lights, turn off that Perry Como ‘best of’ CD you found in a bargain bin all those years ago, and snuggle up on the couch with man’s best friend… Blind Guys Chat.

It’s another fun filled episode of Blind Guys Chat and this week the Guys are once again talking to their favourite member of the band ‘The Metabolics’. Yes, it’s Professor Luke O’Neill. The Prof tells us about the current state of COVID19 in Ireland and the research going on around the world. He also speaks to us about watching telly after his vaccination, and his good time band, The Metabolics. The Guys give us their views on the COP26 summit and their enjoyment of the mild weather in November. Stuart is trying to convince Jan & Óran that Facetime isn’t all that bad for music and video streaming, but they’re only willing to try it if Stuart plays Pink Floyd instead of all those showtunes he loves. We have a query from someone who would like to learn the piano, and Jan has a surprise for Óran & Stuart, spoiler alert, Jan is learning the black & white notes also. In our email section, Adele has a message for The Blind Guys, Otis Mac Stroupy-Pants has had to put on the heating in Baltimore, and we have a “blindie tip” from Blind Gordon who has finally found a reason to use Windows Narrator. So, throw away those used antigen tests, switch off the water pump, tell those shouty kids outside to go to bed, and have a listen to the most gratifying, scrumdiddlyumptious, thigh-slappin’ podcast in this galaxy… …Blind Guys Chat.

It’s our 30th podcast and the Blind Guys are scared of the halloweenies, but Stuart is ok cos his maid is answering the door. We’re talking IOS 15 - Stuart thinks it has some cool new features, but Jan & Óran, well… Óran really is somewhat cynical about some of the features. Jan gives us a COVID-19 update and he is still whinging about living below sea level. Get over it man!! Jade McCormack is back to help Stuart find his way to the train station in North County Dublin using Soundscape and Google Maps. Clodagh is here with “a clatter-load of emails”, one of which is rather scolding. Yes Stuart, it's addressed to you! 🤣 Óran is delighted that he gets to sing the Blindy Tips jingle again as it’s the best jingle in the world EVER! Or so he says. And we’ve got audio messages from Saleem and Gary from South Africa. So, put away that ghostly white sheet, stuff your face with all those treats you got at Halloween and get ready for the most auspicious, bodacious, and fun lovin’ podcast in the world … Blind Guys Chat.

The Blind Guys are not firing on all cylinders this week as poor Jan and his family have been unwell. He tells us about his experience with COVID-19, a flooded kitchen and a poor little doggy who can’t eat his treats because he hurt his neck.

Óran is aiming his grumpiness towards Microsoft and how they have botched up accessibility of MS Teams with the latest update. Stuart is wondering why there are so many blind-related observance days in the same week?

We’ve got a fantastic interview with Clara Murray & Kevin Sherwin, 2 of RTÉ’s audio describers. (Don't forget to check out Kevin's podcast(Things gay people like). Clodagh is here with emails and we unveil our new ‘Blindy Tips’ jingle - yaaaay! Now all we need are your tips - [email protected].

So slip off your high heels and tights, don’t answer the door to anyone, snuggle on the couch with your pet dog, frog or alligator, and listen to episode 29 of the bestiest podcast in the world - Blind Guys Chat!