Mystic Access Podcast

We have several topics to cover in this episode, but first we want to remind you about our spooky treats sale going on every weekend throughout October. Check out MysticAccess.com/shop every Thursday morning to learn which product has been heavily discounted. Sales only run Thursday mornings through Sunday evenings, and each week features a different product on sale. Listen to learn more, and remember that if you aren’t part of our mailing lists, they’re another great free option to help you learn what’s happening at Mystic Access. Chris has a cool health tool to share. It’s called Smart BP, and it’s a highly-accessible app for recording your blood pressure readings. Our talking blood pressure monitor connects to it. As long as you connect your device once, and keep the app running in your app switcher, it’ll record all your data seamlessly. It even allows you to monitor your medications so you don’t miss a dose. Learn more about this great app for iOS and Android by visiting their site. You know one wonderful way to get and stay healthy? By taking walks. And one way to motivate yourself to get those steps in is through a neat app called Walk the Distance. It allows you to virtually walk around trails and cities around the world, learn about their landmarks, and have fun. Chris gives a tour and shows how to begin a walk in a new city. It’s available for both iOS and Android. As you return home from your walk, one thing you might do is stop and check your mailbox. For those of us with low or no vision, snailmail can be tricky, but we’ve found a solution that helps a lot! It’s Informed delivery from the United States Postal Service. we’ve actually talked about it before on the podcast, but now there are mobile apps for iOS and Android to make using this free service even easier. We share what the apps can do and how they make finding out about your mail super easy. Learn more about Informed Delivery and the app at this link. You may have noticed the cool voices we’ve been using throughout this episode. They’re currently in beta for iOS, but we’re so excited to be testing them and can’t wait for their release. They’re called Runa (Run Using No Assistance) and are developed by AccessMind. These amazing voices are already available for Windows and NVDA from Orbit Research. We share a few example voices and tell you why we love them so much. Thanks, as always, for listening. Stay tuned for more podcast fun later in October.

We begin this episode with a few event reminders. Coming up on Thursday, September 17 is our latest free virtual event, When Not to Rely on AI. If possible, AI is an even bigger hot-button topic than ever in the news cycle, and while we feel there are positives, this event focuses heavily on the negative aspects of AI and how it affects us, what it does poorly, and what it doesn’t do at all. We’ll share stories, examples, and open it up for your thoughts, too. Visit this link to register your free seat. If you can’t come live, please save the seats for those who can attend. The event will be recorded and put up on our free downloads site ASAP. We’re super excited to be offering an event on GPS the following week. Chris has finally agreed to put his 20+ years of GPS knowledge into an event that anyone can enjoy. Whether you’re scared of GPS, new to it, stressed by it, or just curious about it, this event will answer many questions, provide lots of vocabulary, and give you a better idea of how GPS works and what it can and cannot do for you. This is a two-session paid event; the second session will exclusively be Q&A from participants. We’ve kept it super affordable so almost anyone can learn with us. Learn more and register at this link. Chris introduces a great new site feature for existing customers; you can now tell when you’ve purchased an item right on the page. For those who are interested in our You’ve Got YouTubbe event, but missed it love, we’re happy to share that it’s now available to everyone as a product on the site, complete with even more audio content as well as a written resouce document. Check it out here. Finally, we discuss Patreon and take a quick tour of the iOS version of the app. The website is also very intuitive and simple to use. Purchasing a Patreon membership is a nice way to say a monetary “Thank you” to those creators who offer the service, and it’s easier to use Patreon than you may think. Thanks, as always, for listening! We’ll talk with you again at the end of September!

New Updates, YouTube Fun, Talking Books & Lawn-Care Adventures! This episode is a bit of a smorgasbord—and we think you’ll find plenty to dig into! We kick things off with a reminder about You’ve Got YouTube, then celebrate a major update to the National Library Service’s digital Talking Book player. And because no episode is complete without a little everyday-life adventure, we wrap things up with some lawn-care talk and a few of Chris’s amusing stories. You’ve Got YouTube — It’s Not Too Late! Our two-part virtual event, You’ve Got YouTube, begins August 18, 2026, but there’s still time to sign up! If you happen to miss Session One, you can join us live for Session Two on August 25. Both sessions will be recorded, so you won’t miss out if your schedule doesn’t cooperate. We’ll visit some of what makes YouTube such a useful and surprisingly accessible resource—from navigating the platform and finding content to discovering channels, creators, and all sorts of things worth watching. And yes, we’re pretty excited about showing you just how much there is to explore! A Big Update for the NLS Digital Talking Book Player Next up, we’ve got some genuinely exciting news for fans of the National Library Service digital Talking Book player. The player can now do more than play books from BARD. With the update, you can also access: * Magazines and newspapers from NFB-NEWSLINE® * Content from Bookshare.org * A particularly exciting new feature for headphone users * And more! We take you through the new features in our demo and review several options so you can get a better sense of what’s possible. One quick audio note: we found that the volume on our players was sometimes a little softer than we’d prefer. We did our best to compensate during post-production, and we hope our explanations and descriptions help if some portions of the demo are difficult to hear. Sorry about that! Lawn Care: The Great Seasonal Cleanup Finally, we’re turning our attention outdoors. Depending on where you are, you’re either heading toward fall or spring, which means lawn cleanup may be moving up your to-do list. We talk about our own experiences finding lawn-maintenance services, what we’ve learned along the way, and some of the things to consider when deciding what kind of help is right for you. And, naturally, Chris has a few stories to tell. Because somehow with us even lawn care can become an adventure. Whether you’re looking for occasional cleanup, regular maintenance, or simply trying to figure out what services are available, we hope our experiences give you some useful ideas. Thanks, as always, for listening! We’ll talk to you in September!

YouTube, Tech Talk, Weather Apps & Little House? Yep…It’s One of *Those* Episodes! This week, we have a delightful smorgasbord of topics, so grab your favorite beverage and come hang out with us! You’ve Got YouTube! We’re kicking things off by telling you all about our upcoming two-part virtual event, You’ve Got YouTube! If you’ve ever wondered whether YouTube has anything to offer someone who is blind or has low vision, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Whether you’re looking for educational content, nostalgia, travel, technology, gardening, music, laughs, or just something relaxing to enjoy, YouTube has something for just about everyone. During Week One, we’ll cover the nuts and bolts: * Using YouTube on iPhone, Android, Windows PCs, Smart TVs, and more * Accounts, navigation, subscriptions, YouTube Premium, and other essentials Week Two is where the treasure hunt begins! We’ll show you how to: * Find great creators and channels * Search for exactly what you want * Interact with creators and videos * Discover even more content you’ll love We’ll also explain what this event **doesn’t** cover—we won’t be teaching you how to create YouTube videos or download and convert them. For all the details and to reserve your seat (at a fantastic price!), be sure to visit the event page. And don’t forget—our site-wide sale continues through the end of July, making this a great time to save! Screen Reader-First Apps & AI Coding Next, we dive into a fascinating conversation about screen reader-first app design and how accessibility can shine when it’s considered from the very beginning. We also chat about how AI is changing software development, helping developers build applications faster than ever before. Along the way, we discuss several interesting apps and projects, including: * QuickMail * Jeff Bishop’s Quill and Quill Radio * The upcoming QuillCast * Simulcast (still waiting in the wings and not yet publicly available) Smoky Skies & Staying Weather Aware Living in the Northeast lately has meant keeping one eye (and ear!) on the smoky skies. We talk about how we stay informed when the weather gets interesting and share some of our favorite weather resources, including: * Weather Gods * Carrot Weather * The Weather Channel * Weather Guardian, a newer app offering screen reader access to weather radar * Weatherology for audio forecasts * And, of course, our trusty voice assistants How do *you* keep up with the weather? We’d love to know! Little House…on Netflix! Finally, because why not? We wrap things up with a chat about Netflix’s new Little House on the Prairie series. We compare it with Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved books, revisit the classic 1974 television series, discuss the audio description, and share our thoughts on how this new adaptation measures up. Thanks for Listening! Listen Until the End! As always, thank you so much for spending some time with us. We have some funny bloopers at the end of this one, so stay tuned. And we’ll be back in early August with an episode featuring a little girl power in the castle! Stay tuned…we can’t wait to share it with you!

In this special bonus episode of the Mystic Access Podcast, we’re delighted to share a memorable piece of history from the “The People Make the Places — Mike May and Friends podcast.” With Mike’s generous permission, we’re featuring this episode here because Sendero Group played such a meaningful role in Chris’s life and in the evolution of accessible GPS for blind and low‑vision travelers. This presentationis a joyful stroll down memory lane, offering a glimpse into where we were twenty years ago and how far accessible navigation has come since those early days. Whether you lived this history alongside us or are discovering it for the first time, we hope you enjoy revisiting these moments as much as we did.

If you enjoyed our last episode, you’re in luck! This one continues the theme with more helpful tools, fun discoveries, and practical demos to make everyday life a little easier—and a lot more enjoyable. Don’t Forget Our Library Event! Before we dive into today’s topics, here’s a friendly reminder that we’re headed to the library—virtually, of course! Join us on Thursday, June 11 at 8:00 PM Eastern Time for a free community event all about making the most of your local library. We’ll discuss: How to find your local library How to get a library card How to access audiobooks, ebooks, magazines, and more Whether your library offers services like Libby and Hoopla How those services work Ways to take advantage of both in-person and online library offerings Bring your questions, experiences, and favorite library stories to share. We’d love to hear them! Activate this link to register your free seat. Can’t attend live? No worries, and no need to register. We’ll post a recording for everyone within about a week, so you won’t miss any of the fun. A Berry Helpful Kitchen Find For those who love practical products you can actually hold in your hands, Kim has a new favorite to share. This episode features a demonstration of a set of nestable fruit and vegetable storage containers with built-in colanders. Note that this is our affiliate link and we receive a small commission if you purchase using our link. Rinse your produce directly in the colander, place it in the container, seal it for freshness, and stack it neatly in the refrigerator. We’ve been especially impressed with how well they work for berries. Our blackberries stayed fresher much longer, making these containers an easy recommendation from us. We’ll explain why we love them, how we use them, and why they may earn a permanent spot in your fridge. Meet VAL, a Highly-Customizable Audio Clock Next, we explore the new VAL clock app for iOS. If you heard our discussion of Steve’s Clock in the previous episode, some of the sounds in VAL may seem familiar. That’s because you can import clock sounds directly from Steve’s Clock into VAL. Listen along as we: Sample several clock sounds Explore the app’s many customization options Demonstrate how it works Share our impressions of this brand-new app Since VAL is so new, we wanted to give it a little well-deserved attention and introduce it to listeners who enjoy accessible audio utilities. Add Sound to Your Browsing with Finch Finally, we return to the web to explore the Finch browser extension by Akash Kakkar. Available for both Chromium-based browsers and Gecko-based browsers like Firefox, Finch adds subtle, informative sounds to your browsing experience. These audio cues can make navigation feel more intuitive while providing useful feedback as you move around the web. In this segment, we: Demonstrate several of Finch’s built-in sounds Show you how to configure the extension Discuss how it enhances everyday browsing Share why we’ve both become fans Sometimes the smallest additions can make a surprisingly big difference, and Finch is a great example. Thanks for Listening As always, thank you for spending part of your day with us. We appreciate every listener who tunes in, shares an episode, or tells a friend about the podcast. We’ll catch you again later in June with more demos, discussions, and discoveries!

Something exciting is brewing in the podcast world! We kick off this episode with a sneak peek at a brand-new podcast client for iOS that Chris has been beta testing. While we’re keeping the app under wraps for now, there’s already plenty to be excited about. We share some early impressions, favorite features, and why even longtime podcast app loyalists may want to keep this one on their radar. Better yet, the developer will be joining us in the magic castle when the app officially launches, so this is only the beginning. Then we head somewhere a little more classic… the library! Whether you love wandering the stacks in person or borrowing books while curled up in pajamas at home, today’s libraries offer far more than many people realize. We take a nostalgic trip through some of our library memories before talking about recently signing up for new library cards ourselves. After a quick house ad (they’re back, OG listeners), Kim gives a beginner-friendly overview of the Libby app and then walks through the basics of Hoopla, including how to sign up and start exploring what your library has available digitally. And if you’d like to dive deeper with us, we’re excited to announce our very first virtual event of 2026! Join Us Live — Thursday, June 11 at 8:00 PM ET. During this free virtual event, we’ll talk more about: * Getting and using library cards * The Libby and Hoopla services * Searching for and borrowing ebooks and audiobooks * Tips for getting started * Making the most of your local library resources We’ll also open things up so everyone can share favorite library services, reading discoveries, and tips of their own. If your talking book library doesn’t always have the titles you want—or you’re tired of long wait times—your local library might become your new favorite resource. Register for free by visiting the linked page above. As always, thanks for reading… we mean listening! We appreciate every single one of you.

This episode is truly out of this world—and not just metaphorically. We kick things off by diving into the excitement surrounding the recent Artemis II mission, NASA’s bold step toward returning humans to the Moon. We share our personal experiences following the mission, how we stayed connected to the action, and what it sparked in our imaginations. Along the way, we explore the question: what would it be like to be blind in space? — Stay Connected to Space If you’ve ever wanted to keep up with space exploration without needing to rely on visuals, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of our favorite resources: The NASA app–A fantastic way to follow missions, read updates, and explore space content NASA’s YouTube channel– Surprisingly engaging even without the visuals The podcast Houston We Have a Podcast The daily space bites from StarDate The ever-fascinating 365 Days of Astronomy We were genuinely surprised by how much we could enjoy and learn from these historic moments—no telescope required. — A New Chapter in Reading Next, Kim introduces a service she’s seriously excited about: Everand. This platform offers: * Ebooks * Audiobooks * Podcasts We walk through how the subscription works, what you can expect from the app, and why it might just become your next favorite reading companion. — Then vs. Now: Reading Through the Years We wrap up with a nostalgic (and eye-opening) look at how reading has evolved over the years—especially in terms of accessibility. From older devices to today’s on-demand digital libraries, it’s amazing to reflect on just how far things have come. — Final Thoughts Whether you’re gazing at the stars, diving into a new book, or reminiscing about the way things used to be, this episode is all about discovery—of the universe, and of the tools that help us explore it. Thanks so much for listening—we appreciate you more than words (or rocket launches) can say!

If you love curling up with a good book from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, this episode is especially for you. We recently received our brand-new Digital Advanced Players (DA2) from the library, and of course we couldn’t resist taking them for a thorough spin. We start by sharing our first impressions of the player and giving you a friendly tour of the hardware. From the layout of the controls to how everything feels in your hands, we walk through what makes the new player different and why we’re so excited about it. Then it’s time for the fun part: a full demo. You’ll hear two of the built-in text-to-speech voices, follow along as we download a book, explore the wish list feature, check out settings, and more. While there are still a few things we’d love to see improved, we’re already big fans of the functionality—and especially the hardware design. If you’re curious about the DA2 player or wondering whether you might want one, this demo should give you a helpful preview. In the second half of the episode, we shift gears to a slightly less delightful discovery involving our new Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. After picking them up during the holidays, we recently ran into an unexpected change that may impact some blind and visually impaired users. We talk about what happened, what we think about it, and why it might matter if you rely on accessibility when using Bose products. As far as we know, this doesn’t affect all Bose hardware, but it’s definitely something some users may encounter. Thanks as always for listening! And if you’re tuning in on release day, we hope your St. Patrick’s Day luck is going strong. We’ll talk to you again on the last day of March!

This episode is a delightful mixed bag—in the best possible way. We’ve got two very different low-tech demos, a juicy tech update for the gadget lovers, and one topic that surprised even us. Think of it like Kim’s column in Our Special from National Braille Press—something for every skill level. So buckle up. This ride has range. Low-Tech Fun: The BrailleDoodle We kick things off with a hands-on (literally) demo of the BrailleDoodle—a creative tactile board that’s equal parts braille learning tool and STEM art canvas. We spotted it in Dallas last year and Kim immediately knew one had to come home. It’s refreshingly low tech. No batteries. No updates. Just tactile creativity and skill-building magic. Whether you want to sharpen your braille, explore spatial concepts, or secretly unleash your inner artist, this little product delivers. We demo it live and share our impressions. Curious? Find tutorials and videos at the link above: TouchPadProFoundation.org/instructions. Winter Gloves… But Make Them Techy Yes, we’re talking about gloves. It’s been *that* cold. We recently picked up some cozy wool gloves with touchscreen capability, and they’ve been a total game changer. But—and this is important—not all touchscreen gloves are created equal. There’s one key thing you absolutely need to check before buying if you want them to actually work well with your phone or tablet. We break it down so you don’t end up with warm hands and frozen frustration. Android 16 + Braille Displays = Big Win Chris recently updated his Samsung phone to Android 16 and TalkBack 16, and there’s a very exciting accessibility perk: support for HID-compliant braille displays. That’s right—plug and play just got easier. We also chat about the Samsung braille keyboard, which feels a lot like Braille Screen Input on iOS. If you’re a braille user curious about what’s new on Android, this segment is for you. Demo: CVS Spoken Rx To wrap things up, Chris demos the Spoken Rx prescription reader from CVS Pharmacy. You can access Spoken Rx through the CVS app, but we focus on the standalone hardware version—which is free, simple, and incredibly convenient. If managing prescriptions independently is important to you (or someone you love), this is worth a look. We walk through how it works and provide some useful tips. Learn more and register at the above link. — Thanks so much for spending time with us. We appreciate you. Catch you in March!

You may be relieved to know that today’s episode gives hospitals and medical talk a well-deserved rest. Instead, we’re cozying up with ideas to keep you entertained, informed, and moving through the coldest months of the year. Grab a blanket—let’s dive in. Reading, Reimagined What kind of reader are you? In this episode, we take a nostalgic stroll down Memory Lane while exploring different reading formats—some beloved, some… controversial. We chat about: * The **perils and pitfalls of abridged books** * **Free TTS narration** and when it shines (or doesn’t) * **Dramatized audiobooks, original audio series, and where to get them** Along the way, we share recommendations and tips on how to research and discover formats that best match *your* reading style. Our hope is to introduce—or reintroduce—you to new ways to enhance your reading pleasure. (Yes, we noticed the irony of talking about reading while being a podcast. Roll with us.) Lights, Camera… Audio Description! If you know us, you know we’re huge fans of audio described movies and TV shows. Good news: the free streaming service Pluto TV is slowly but surely growing its collection of AD content. In this episode, we: * Show you how to **find and access AD titles on Pluto TV** * Talk honestly about the current (still small) selection * Celebrate the fact that it *is* expanding Progress is progress—and we love to see it. Move It (Even When It’s Freezing Outside) When winter weather makes the outdoors uninviting, staying active can be a challenge—but not an impossible one. We share: * **Chris’s love of Zombies, Run!—a perfect blend of exercise and dramatized storytelling * **Kim’s return to Walk at Home, an app she mentioned long ago and is happy to revisit Best of all? Accessibility has improved significantly in both apps, which gives us hope that more fitness and wellness apps will continue to follow suit. Thanks for Listening As always, thank you so much for spending part of your day with us. We truly appreciate you and your support. Stay warm, stay curious, and we’ll talk to you again in two weeks!

We’re excited to both be here for this episode! Chris is now out of the hospital and back home. We decided to devote this episode to sharing some tips and things we’ve learned during this experience. If you’re faced with an emergency room visit or hospitalization, what do you need to take into account physically, emotionally, and financially? What should you bring? What should you do and not do? We hope our tips, perspectives, and personal experiences are helpful if you ever go through this stressful situation, either as the patient or the primary family member involved. We close the episode with holiday wishes for all of you. Have a happy, merry season, hold your loved ones close, and stay safe and well if at all possible. Talk to you in the new year!

Today’s episode is short but definitely sweet—think mini-pumpkin-pie sweet. Both of us are a little under the weather (Chris especially… send tissues!), but we still have a fun demo to share with you. First Things First: Our Annual Open House! Before we dive in, here’s your cheerful reminder that our annual *post-Turkey Day* open house is happening **Friday, November 28, from 1–5 PM ET**. Bring your leftovers-fueled stories, your tech questions, and your best holiday giggles—we always have an amazing time reconnecting with all of you. Register quickly and freely using this link. We can’t wait to see who pops in! Demo Time: The GNMDNR Bluetooth Pillow Speaker Kim cozies up to the mic to talk about the GNMDNR Bluetooth pillow speaker, a compact bedtime buddy with: * **Stereo sound** * **Two wonderfully distinct buttons** (yay, tactile controls!) * **A few dreamy features to help you drift into la-la land** One important note: the Amazon title says it includes white noise… but it doesn’t. No worries, though — you can stream all the white noise, pink noise, whale sounds, or softly crackling campfires your heart desires through your favorite app or playlist. If you’d like to learn more or get one for yourself, check out our affiliate link above. We only recommend products we actually try and enjoy, so your support means the world. **Happy Thanksgiving! To everyone celebrating this weekend—we’re wishing you a joyful, delicious Thanksgiving. We’re so grateful for each and every one of you. See you in December!