The Quest for Better Bars (and Better Browsing)

📣 In this special episode, we’re doing something a little different… we’re telling a story—our story. 💫 But before we hop in the time machine, we’ve got an exciting announcement that longtime listeners (and newcomers!) won’t want to miss… — 🎁 Special Announcement: A Classic Returns! 🎙️ We’re thrilled to share that the very first piece of audio documentation Chris and Kim ever created together—the Victor Stream 2 tutorial—is now completely free! This is the recording that helped put Mystic Access on the map back in 2015, and now you can experience a little piece of history (and maybe a few nostalgic smiles at how we sounded back then 😉). Still using a Stream 2? This tutorial remains an incredibly valuable resource to help you get the most out of your device. 👉 Head over to our Free Downloads site to grab the MP3 version (and don’t worry—a DAISY version is available there too!). — 🕰️ The Main Event: Our Origin Story April 1 marks the anniversary of Mystic Access, and we’re celebrating by going all the way back to the beginning. In this episode, we share: * How Mystic Access first came to life * The inspiration behind what we do * Why we’ve made the choices we have along the way * And how our journey has shaped the products we offer today Whether you’ve been with us since day one or just found us recently, you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of who we are—both as people and as professionals. — 💛 Thank You for Being Here Your support means everything to us, and we’re so grateful to have you as part of the Mystic Access community. Enjoy this walk down memory lane with us—and we’ll see you in April for more! 🎉 Read more at Mystic Access Podcast

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! Read more at Mystic Access Podcast

Do you love an episode that gives you a little bit of everything? High tech, low tech, practical info, and a dash of surprise? Yes, please. 🎧✨ 🌐 WiFi That Thinks It’s Invincible? In this episode, we kick things off with a deep dive into the Invincible Wifi internet Package from Spectrum. Chris walks you through: * What’s actually included in the package * What the equipment offers (and who it’s best for) * A fun little surprise he discovered during the unboxing 👀 After a few days of real-world use, we share our honest impressions—what’s working well, what’s interesting, and what you might want to consider before upgrading your own setup. If you love hearing about tech from the perspective of people who actually live with it, this one’s for you. — 🔎 A Cleaner Way to Search, Shop, and Book Let’s be real: the modern web can feel like an obstacle course, especially for screen reader users. Cluttered layouts. Mystery buttons. Popups everywhere. No thanks. That’s where InnoSearch comes in. This service aims to simplify the experience of: * Shopping online * Ordering food * Booking flights Chris takes the Android version of the InnoSearch app for a spin and explores how it behaves with a screen reader. Then, Kim shares what the AI-powered phone interface experience is like—you’ll hear how it sounds, discover how intuitive you think it is, and learn whether it lives up to the promise of less clutter and more clarity. If you’re curious about accessible alternatives to traditional websites, this segment is packed with insight. For even more on InnoSearch, check out this recent Tek Talk presentation. — 🍀 Until Next Time… Thanks, as always, for being part of our community. We appreciate you showing up, listening in, and exploring new tools with us. We’ll see you again closer to St. Patrick’s Day—maybe with a little extra luck on our side. 🍀 Read more at Mystic Access Podcast

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! Read more at Mystic Access Podcast

🎧 We hope you’re in the mood for some hands-on learning, because this episode is packed with not one, but TWO demos that run under Windows 10/11—plus a cozy bonus to help you survive winter in style. ▶️ Demo #1: FastPlay Media Player for Windows Chris kicks things off with a walkthrough of FastPlay, a free Windows-based media player that comes with some pleasantly unexpected features. In this demo, we: * Tour the menus and layout * Explore handy keyboard commands * Learn how to control and manage music playback * Discover a few cool touches that make this player stand out If you’re looking for a lightweight, accessible media player, FastPlay might be your new favorite. Download it directly free from GitHub by activating this link. 📰 Demo #2: BlindRSS Feed Reader Next up, we dive into BlindRSS, another free Windows program—this time designed to help you keep up with your favorite websites and blogs. Not sure what RSS is? No problem! We explain: * What RSS feeds are * How RSS readers organize content for you * Why this can be a game-changer for staying informed Chris demonstrates how to: * Read articles from feeds * Add items to favorites * Navigate your subscriptions If you love efficient, distraction-free reading, BlindRSS is worth a look. Grab it directly from GitHub using this link. 🧣 Cozy Pick of the Episode Since it’s been extra chilly here in Western NY (brrr!), we wrap things up with a winter comfort recommendation: a high-quality blanket that keeps you wonderfully toasty — and includes a fun little surprise that Chris shares in the episode. You can check it out through our Amazon affiliate link. Using this link helps support Mystic Access at no extra cost to you. As always, we only share products we genuinely love. ❄️ Happy February! Stay warm, stay curious, and thanks so much for listening. We’ll be back with another episode in two weeks! Read more at Mystic Access Podcast

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! Read more at Mystic Access Podcast

In this episode, Chris and Kim share even more adventures from their daily lives. They kick things off by talking about Chris’s We-Walk cane—and the mystery of why it decided to walk away on its own. Next, they discuss and demonstrate a talking blood pressure monitor that connects to a smartphone app via Bluetooth, sharing their thoughts and experiences with it. They also chat about a cool pill organizer they picked up on Amazon and how it fits into their routine. Some links on this page are our Amazon affiliate links. Purchasing from this page we may receive a small commission. To wrap things up, Chris and Kim send heartfelt thanks to everyone who reached out with kind words and well wishes. As always, thank you for listening and for being part of the podcast community. 💙 — Read more at Mystic Access Podcast

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! Read more at Mystic Access Podcast

Today’s episode is very different than what we expected to release. Please listen to the first few minutes where Kim shares important news about the immediate future of Mystic Access and our podcast. Then, stay tuned as Kim and Lisa deliver two delicious holiday recipes. We’ll get these posted in the show notes as soon as possible. Thanks, as always, for listening. Read more at Mystic Access Podcast

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! 🧡 Read more at Mystic Access Podcast