New podcast: Blindness doesn't define a person.
2024-03-24
Dear friend,
Good morning! Want to listen to something new? I just hit "publish" on a new podcast episode. Scroll down for links.
A little background on the podcast...
I released the first episode of the Quill Nook Experience... let me check... one year and 364 days ago. Whoa.
I would date the genesis of this podcast to Marlboro College, and the stimulating dialogue we held in the seminar rooms and dining hall there. Then, I got to do that for a living! When I graduated from Marlboro in 2000, Kevin Kennedy hired me as his marketing and communications assistant. My favorite part of the job was interviewing Marlboro faculty and writing their bios for the course catalog. I also interviewed recent alumni and retiring professors and profiled them in Potash Hill, the alumni magazine.
Since Marlboro, and including stops in the sustainability world, homesteading, and now as an elected leader, I've never stopped asking questions, and publishing the conversation in some form.
Everyone has a unique life experience and expertise, and their own unique genius. The challenge as an interviewer has been to find the questions and the conversational environment that facilitate that person sharing that.
The idea of the podcast has been that I sit down here on Quill Nook Farm with someone who has something they want to say. My interests are pretty broad -- so we can touch on writing, origin stories, healing, the future, parenting, and more.
Between March and June of 2022, I released four episodes, and recorded a few more.
After my campaign for State Rep heated up with the summer of 2022, and as a first-year legislator, I wasn't able to spend quality time with it. It's been on a lull.
I'm glad I got the break. The "reset" was useful in clarifying my intent.
I believe that discussing issues like addiction, trauma, and healing are key to facing the challenges of our world today. In hosting conversations that often touch on these topics, I have a responsibility to the interviewee to maintain a safe environment. But talking with people about their trauma can be hard, and doing so as a "politician" presented me with additional challenges.
I wanted to return to the podcast, but I wanted it to come together organically.
The person who broke this logjam for me was Daniel Kish.
I first learned about Daniel when I heard him interviewed on This American Life in 2015. I never forgot him, and often talked about Daniel with my family and friends. I didn't remember his name, but the person I remembered as "The Blind Batman" was a huge influence on me ever since. We discuss all that in the episode.
I never contacted Daniel. We just met—by pure chance, in November. I live in Vermont. Daniel lives in Long Beach, California. We both happened to be on the same meditation retreat in Calgary, Alberta. I didn't know what "The Blind Batman" looked like, so I got to know Daniel Kish in his own right before putting two and two together with the 2015 show.
We stayed in touch and I invited Daniel to visit Vermont in February. We spent a long weekend together in Montpelier and Halifax. Here we are exploring the State House. (In the interview, Daniel discusses what this room "looks" like to a blind person.)
Rep. Tristan Roberts and Daniel Kish under the chandelier in the Vermont House of Representatives
Daniel Kish is an expert in human echolocation. He serves as the President of World Access for the Blind (WAFTB), a California-based nonprofit that he founded in 2000. Through WAFTB, Kish and collaborators work with unsighted and blind children and people across the globe. Since its establishment in 2000, they have taught 500 kids the art of echolocation as a means of moving through the world.
Kish underwent surgery at just 13 months old to remove his eyes, a result of having eye cancer. He holds master's degrees in developmental psychology and special education.
Our interview is available wherever you get your podcasts, and here are direct links:
Listen right on my website: Daniel Kish - Blindness Does Not Define a Person
I was genuinely blown away by unexpectedly meeting Daniel, and then being able to get to know him. I'm happy that much of the wonder and excitement of our conversations were captured in this interview. I hope you enjoy it!
Please also subscribe, and leave a rating! It will help us reach more listeners.
warm regards,
Rep. Tristan Roberts
Vermont House of Representatives
P.S. I have two more podcast episodes recorded and in editing. Who would you like me to interview next? Do you want to sponsor this podcast? Please send me a quick email. In the meantime, enjoy your day!
