Melissa Bonnette

In this episode of Volunteer Spotlight, Evan Starnes and Jennifer Neptune welcome longtime AfterSight reader Jeannie DeMarinis. Jeannie shares her experience reading The Colorado Sun, reflects on the value of local journalism, and explains why human-read audio still brings meaning, warmth, and connection in a world increasingly filled with AI voices. She also shares a powerful story about a donated Perkins Brailler that helped change the life of a young blind student named Christian. (00:02) - - Welcome to Volunteer Spotlight (02:02) - - Jeannie’s Volunteer History (04:11) - - Image Descriptions, Ads, and Listener Experience (06:03) - - Why The Colorado Sun Matters (10:36) - - Keeping Up with Continual News Updates (11:12) - - Expanding Colorado Sun Coverage (12:00) - - Articles That Inspire Real-World Discovery (13:13) - - Human Readers Versus AI Voices (16:14) - - Inflection, Emotion, and the Human Voice (17:53) - - The Perkins Brailler Story (19:47) - - Stories That Show AfterSight’s Impact (21:33) - - Volunteers, Technology, and Learning Together (23:25) - - A Shoutout to The Colorado Sun (26:11) - - Reading Aloud After Retirement (27:10) - - A Fresh Slate for Volunteer Spotlight (28:26) - - Closing

Volunteer Spotlight returns with a new twist as Evan Starnes and Jennifer Neptune shine the spotlight not only on a volunteer reader, but also on one of Aftersight’s publication partners: the Colorado Sun. Joined by longtime volunteer Tom “TMac” McMillen, the conversation explores the value of in-depth local journalism, the growing importance of accessible news, and why the human voice still matters in an age of AI-generated audio.Tom shares his experience reading the Tuesday Colorado Sun for Aftersight, the kinds of stories that spark conversation long after recording ends, and how thoughtful journalism covering everything from Colorado politics and water issues to arts, culture, and rural communities helps listeners stay informed and connected. The group also discusses Aftersight’s evolving partnerships with publications, the future of audio accessibility, and the subtle but important differences between AI narration and a real human reader bringing personality, emphasis, and emotion to the page.Along the way, there’s plenty of humor, behind-the-scenes discussion about Aftersight’s transition into modern podcast distribution, and even a few debates about what Volunteer Spotlight should eventually be renamed.

In this heartfelt and engaging episode of Volunteer Spotlight, host Evan Starnes kicks off the new year by introducing an exciting new chapter for the show: Jennifer Neptune, Aftersight’s Volunteer and Publications Manager, officially joins as permanent co-host.The spotlight shines on December’s Volunteer of the Month, Jim Stechman, whose audiobook-quality narrations have elevated Aftersight’s programming, including Blind History Lady, The Getting There Guide, and the Dr. MAC (Mobility Access Council) Newsletter. Jim shares his long history of reading for blind and low vision communities, from early tape-based recordings for rural Colorado to his current work with multiple reading services.The conversation explores:• Jim’s journey into volunteer voice work and why storytelling matters• The impact of accessible information in rural communities• How Aftersight bridges gaps in transportation, news, and local resources• Jim’s eclectic taste in music, from Wagner to Slayer• A deep dive into his home recording setup and audio production background• Aftersight’s transition to new recording and hosting platforms, including Riverside and TransistorJim also reflects on living in Australia and New Zealand, comparing accessibility, infrastructure, and culture, while Jennifer and Evan reinforce Aftersight’s mission to expand content reach and recruit more volunteer readers.The episode closes with a powerful call to action for listeners to get involved, share the podcast, and help grow Aftersight’s impact across Colorado and beyond.(00:00) - – Welcome to Volunteer Spotlight (01:40) - – Introducing Volunteer of the Month: Jim Stechman (02:18) - – Jim’s volunteer history and discovering Aftersight (05:45) - – Favorite content to read and the impact of the Dr. MAC Newsletter (07:24) - – Voiceover growth and storytelling skills (09:00) - – Volunteer recognition and versatility (10:30) - – Home recording setup and audio gear talk (12:40) - – Riverside and Transistor platform discussion (14:00) - – Jim’s music tastes and personal connection to vision loss (15:50) - – Rural access and Aftersight’s community mission (19:30) - – Encouraging new volunteers to join (20:45) - – Living in Australia and New Zealand (24:50) - – How much content Aftersight produces weekly (27:30) - – Final thoughts and volunteer appreciation (30:40) - – Next episode preview and sign-off 00:00 – Welcome to Volunteer Spotlight00:12 – New Year kickoff and Jennifer Neptune joins as co-host01:40 – Introducing Volunteer of the Month: Jim Stechman02:18 – Jim’s volunteer history and discovering Aftersight05:45 – Favorite content to read and the impact of the Dr. MAC Newsletter07:24 – Voiceover growth and storytelling skills09:00 – Volunteer recognition and versatility10:30 – Home recording setup and audio gear talk12:40 – Riverside and Transistor platform discussion14:00 – Jim’s music tastes and personal connection to vision loss15:50 – Rural access and Aftersight’s community mission19:30 – Encouraging new volunteers to join20:45 – Living in Australia and New Zealand24:50 – How much content Aftersight produces weekly27:30 – Final thoughts and volunteer appreciation30:40 – Next episode preview an

On this longer than typical episode of VLS, we have a rabit hole filled discussion with Phillip Bradbury, reader of the MileHigh Sports Magazine, amongst lots of other readings. We talk about the transition from in-person to remote reading, share some hart felt stories about Kat Bradbury, the former volunteer manager who has since past on, and go down plenty of rabit holes about music, radio, and how it ultimately lead to Phillip's involvement with Aftersight.

This month, we talk with Linda Chambers, the volunteer of the month for June. Linda Chambers has a rich background as a general music teacher for 35 years and enjoys reading for the Grand Junction Sentinel. Linda's passion for music includes playing various instruments including Ukulele, and she has a strong belief in the universal language of music to connect people across cultures.

In this episode of the Volunteer Spotlight, host Evan Starnes welcomes Tom McMillen, the Volunteer of the Month for May. They discuss Tom's journey into volunteering, his role in the Steely Dan tribute band My Old School, and we get to hear a fun test recording Thom made when we were troubleshooting his microphone.

In this episode of the Volunteer Spotlight, host Evan Starnes welcomes Melissa Bonnette, the Volunteer of the Month for March, to discuss her extensive journey with AfterSight, the evolution of audio reading, and the importance of community feedback. They explore Melissa's personal experiences, her recording setup, and the impact of volunteering on both the volunteers and the community.

In this episode of Volunteer Spotlight, host Evan Starnes interviews Jason Consol, the volunteer of the month for December. They discuss Jason's journey into audio narration, his love for model railroading, and the challenges he faced when starting out. The conversation also touches on Jason's audio setup, including his equipment choices and techniques for improving his reading skills. The episode is filled with personal anecdotes, insights into the world of audio narration, and a festive holiday spirit, yes we recorded this in December.