Reid My Mind Radio

Attention! Attention! Audio Description Training Retreats (ADTR) is seeking applicants to join its training program.

Want to apply? Want to learn more about ADTR? Go to their website:
https://www.adtrainingretreats.com/ad-training-septoct2024
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Alt Text: Screenshot from the black and white movie "Go West" featuring a white man, Buster Keaton, a comedian and actor.

AD Training Sept-Oct 2024 | AD Training Retreats Our virtual trainings take place over Zoom and are normally 4 days with 20+ hours of formal Audio Description Training.

Blind Centered Audio Description Chat: Blind Professionals in AD Many Blind people are interested in getting started in all aspects of , but first we need to have a conversation about foundational skills.

Episode: The Art of Adjustment – Caribbean Dreams
Posted April 24, 2024

“Slow down and remember to breathe,” I remember a former instructor would advise. I first thought it was silly. Who the heck forgets to breathe? That was until I realized I was unconsciously holding my breath as we walked through the movements.

Taking the time to stop and breathe applies to everything. It’s my hope that those listening to this podcast, especially those new to disability, really take the time to digest the various ideas and topics my guests raise.

The self-portrait episodes are my time to do that for myself. It has me wondering how much I have missed over the years focusing on getting out the podcast. I know there are many things that I return to, but did I let certain ideas breathe enough to really digest and take advantage of the nourishment they provide?

In my last episode with Kiana Glanton, we chatted about the Caribbean Carnival. Well, I’m glad I sat with it. It sparked some thoughts and an idea….

Image Description: The described artwork is a captivating visual narrative that seamlessly blends color, culture, and celebration into a singular, striking composition. With its deep black background, this piece serves as a canvas that accentuates the vividness of a solitary yellow flower with green leaves, positioned delicately at the top edge, almost as a symbolic overture to the richness of life and nature that frames the entire narrative. At the heart of this vibrant artwork is a circle-shaped photograph of a man adorned in a Caribbean parade attire, a dazzling pink silk suit marked by a pristine white line down the inseams. The man's face is obscured by a pink and white hat shaped like a sunflower, suggesting a fusion of human and nature, a common theme in Caribbean celebrations that honor the individual and the collective spirit. Flanking this central image are two rectangular portraits that further celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of Caribbean culture. To the left, a stunning Black woman is depicted in a costume that is as much a work of art as it is attire, with salmon-colored feathers, gold, and teal jewels crafting an image of regal beauty and strength. To the right, a float bursts with hues of blue, orange, and yellow, atop which a 3d image of a smiling man with a brown complexion and long black Locs under a genie turbine symbolizes joy and enchantment. The depiction of men and women playing drums in the background underscores Caribbean festivals' communal joy and rhythmic heartbeat. Below these images, the words The Art of Adjustment and Caribbean Dream in vibrant yellow script serve as a poignant reminder of the resilience, adaptability, and enduring optimism that characterizes Caribbean culture and its diaspora's dreams. This artwork is a visual feast and a profound narrative woven from the threads of history, celebration, and the enduring human spirit.

The Art of Adjustment - Caribbean Dreams Stop and breathe applies to everything. Even this podcast! In my last episode with Kiana Glanton,we chatted about Caribbean Carnival. Well, it lit a spark!

"I remember praying for something to believe in, something to get into. And now it’s here; you can’t complain when you pray and your prayers get answered."

Episode: The Art of Adjustment – The Competitive Edge
Posted April 10, 2024

Kiana Glanton, a Development Intern at the Lighthouse Guild in NYC, was in search of opportunities after her vision loss. Today, she wants to help others by sharing what worked for her, among them, Blind Baseball.

She’s also the reigning Miss Blind Diva & Miss Independent YouTube Challenge winner. Find out what drives her and keeps her motivated and definitely energized!

Image Description: Kiana Glanton, a medium, brown-skinned black woman of Cuban and African descent wearing a Miss Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant gold crown and white sash.

Episode: The Art of Adjustment – Eyes Like Mine
Posted February 14, 2024

Meet Krystle Allen, Co-Founder and President of Eyes Like Mine Inc. At 16 Krystle became Blind, and although she turned inward, eventually, her curiosity and strong connection to her family, friends, and the community in Newark, New Jersey, helped her launch her non-profit organization.

From events like the Miss Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant, Dancing with the Blind, and virtual support groups, Krystle demonstrates both through her life and her actions how adjusting is truly an art.

Hear more about Krystle, Eyes Like Mine, and some of their events and programs. And of course, “Dancing with the Blind” set off my trash-talking! Let’s get it!

Image Description: Krystle Allen, a rich brown Afro-Latina smiles as her curly hair flows beyond her shoulders. Her hands are on her hips in a powerful stance, and she has her Miss Newark USA Pageant crown and sash. She wears a rust orange dress knee length with black open-toe shoes.

Episode The Art of Adjustment – We’re In This Together
Posted March 27, 2024

In the last episode featuring Andrew Leland, I mentioned a segment of our conversation that focused on what exactly makes something disabled art. What defines someone as a disability artist or part of disability culture?

In this continuing self-portrait, we’ll get into that identity, ableism, and more.
Reflecting on the topics, I recall a story from an experience with my family. So my daughters, Riana and Raven, joined me in this episode. Which automatically makes it one of my favorites to produce!

is back!

Image Description: A photo collage consisting of seven photos featuring Thomas Reid and his two daughters. From left to right; Row 1: 1. present-day: Riana in a brown coat and scarf with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. 2. As a baby, Riana in a white patterned onesie. 3. In the present day, Thomas has his arms around his daughters, Raven and Riana. All with bright smiles. 4. In the present day, Raven is smiling in a green dress with long curly hair. 5. As a baby, Raven has her hand extended while wearing a purple Baltimore Ravens onesie. Row 2: 6. Raven and Riana smiling. 7. Thomas is wearing a white shirt and dark shades., followed by the Reid My Mind Radio logo in the lower right corner

The Art of Adjustment - We’re In This Together Inspired by my last episode with Andrew Leland, my daughters join to help me explore what exactly makes someone a disabled artist, identity, ableism and more.

Episode: The Art of Adjustment – Welcome to the Country of the Blind
Posted March 13, 2024

Whether you’re Blind, disabled, or in any way identify as someone in a marginalized group, chances are you thought about what life would be like in a place where you are accepted and your needs are centered. Maybe even just considered?

Andrew Leland’s first book, The Country of the Blind, isn’t about a fictional place; rather, it’s about something much more real.

In this episode, we cover the following;
Writing – its importance and impact on his adjustment
Internal Ableism
His vote for President of the Country of the Blind and more

Image Description: Seated on a wooden bench on his back porch, Andrew Leland, a middle-aged white man with short black hair and rectangular glasses, is framed by bright green tree leaves and the table before him. Photo credit Gregory Halpern

The Art of Adjustment - Welcome to the Country of the Blind Andrew Leland discusses his first book The Country of the Blind, the impact of writing on his adjustment, internal ableism, the President of this Blind Country and more.

Hi, boys and girls. Hold on to your seats. Later today, we're posting back-to-back episodes from the series The Art of Adjustment. We hope you enjoy them!

Episode: Welcome to The Art of Adjustment
January 24th, 2024 / Author: T.Reid

We're beginning 2024 with the essence of what this podcast is all about. From its inception, this podcast has always wanted to be a way not only to share our stories and experiences of blindness and disability in general but also to provide some encouragement to those adjusting to a new way of life.

It just so happens that this year marks ten years of producing this podcast. Listen to what's in store for this first season of 2024.

Image Description: A Black and white backpack with the Reid My Mind logo. A Red emblem circle with reidmymind.com in the center with the words "It's Official, you are now a part of the Reid MY MIND Radio Family. The letter O in radio is replaced by a yellow circle sound wave font.

Welcome to The Art of Adjustment After ten years, this podcast continues to share our stories and provide some encouragement to those adjusting to blindness and disability in general.

Episode: Blind-Centered Audio Description Chat: Allyship
December 20th, 2023 / Author: T. Reid

Just in time to close out 2023, the band is back together!

We’re continuing our live series “Blind-Centered Audio Description” with a conversation on Allyship.
Plenty of people claim to be allies, but how many of us know what true allyship is supposed to look like? Too often, much of what we experience is performative.

Listen to this live conversation and then consider those you and many of us in the community perceive to be an ally.
Join Us Live
To find out when and where the next live chat is taking place, send an email to BlindCenteredAD at Gmail.com. We’ll add you to our notification list.

Image Description: A Black and white backpack with the Reid My Mind logo. A Red emblem circle with reidmymind.com in the center with the words "It's Official, you are now a part of the Reid MY MIND Radio Family. The letter O in radio is replaced by a yellow circle sound wave font.

Blind Centered Audio Description Chat: Allyship Just in time to close out 2023, the band is back together! We’re continuing our live series “Blind Centered Audio Description” with a conversation on Allyship. Plenty of people claim to be allies…

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

Image description: On a white background is a red and white Santa hat with the words Merry Christmas from the Reid family in black underneath.

Episode: Flipping the Script on Audio Description: Describing What is Unseen
Originally Aired June 2023

Set Hernandez is the producer and director of Unseen. In this documentary, he introduces us to Pedro, an undocumented college student who happens to be Blind.

Set's approach to access was quite different from films in the past, where even though the subject or the protagonist was Blind, the film lacked audio description.

Set and Pedro join me to discuss the filmmaking process, intersectionality, audio description, and more.

Image Description: alt= "Side profile shot of a bald young man with glasses wearing a black collared shirt on a sunny day."

FTS on Audio Description: Describing What is Unseen Set Hernandez is the producer and director of Unseen- a documentary which follows Pedro, an undocumented college student who happens to be Blind.

Episode: Flipping the Script on Audio Description: What We See
Originally aired: June 14th, 2023

Conversations about audio description often focus on what others see and report to us – people who are Blind or have low vision.

In this episode, inspired by the podcast Pigeonhole episode by Cheryl Green, I’m exploring some thoughts I had, which began with my own experience of visual hallucinations from Charles Bonnet Syndrome.

As I began thinking about and describing my visions, I saw a correlation to what continues to be a challenge in the audio description field; the acceptance and participation of Blind people in the production process.

To help me think about both these visions and correlation:
* Carmen Papalia
* Collin van Uchelen, Ph.D.
* Andrew Slater

“We have a whole lot of superstars on this stage tonight!”
Welcome back to Flipping the Script on Audio Description!

Image Description: The backdrop is green with a book opened that says REID in black capital letters and the I in red. Underneath the book is the word MY in white capital letters in a red comment box that sits right above a diagram of a human head colored orange with gears turning. A picture of a vintage radio lies next to the images, and underneath reads RADIO in black capital letters, each encased in a circle.

Flipping the Script on Audio Description: What We See Discussing my own experience with hallucinations and the connection with the challenges Blind people face trying to work in audio description.

Episode: Flipping the Script on Audio Description: What We See
Originally aired: June 14th, 2023

Conversations about audio description often focus on what others see and report to us – people who are Blind or have low vision.

In this episode, inspired by the podcast Pigeonhole episode by Cheryl Green, I’m exploring some thoughts I had, which began with my own experience of visual hallucinations from Charles Bonnet Syndrome.

As I began thinking about and describing my visions, I saw a correlation to what continues to be a challenge in the audio description field: the acceptance and participation of Blind people in the production process.

To help me think about both these visions and correlation:
* Carmen Papalia
* Collin van Uchelen, Ph.D.
* Andrew Slater
“We have a whole lot of superstars on this stage tonight!”
Welcome back to Flipping the Script on Audio Description!

Image Description: The backdrop is green with a book opened that says REID in black capital letters and the I in red. Underneath the book is the word MY in white capital letters in a red comment box that sits right above a diagram of a human head colored orange with gears turning. A picture of a vintage radio lies next to the images, and underneath reads RADIO in black capital letters, each encased in a circle.

Click the link in our bio to access reidmymind.com to hear this episode, enter the keywords Apparitions visions in the search bar, or listen to your favorite podcast app.

Episode: Flipping the Script on Audio Description: La Professora
Originally aired: July 2022

Professor Maria Jose Garcia Vizcaino of Montclair State University joins us to discuss her 400-level class on Audio Description in both English and Spanish.

A fully immersive course where students;
* Choose a concentration – theater, museum, or film
* Work on real-world projects in the community
* Earn and practice both creative and compliance approaches

Image Description: Headshot of Professor Maria Jose Garcia Vizcaino

Flipping the Script on Audio Description: La Professora Prof. Maria Jose Garcia Vizcaino discusses her fully immersive Audio Description course where students choose a concentration & work on real world projects.

NEW EPISODE!

Episode: Flipping the Script on Audio Description: NO ONE WILL SAVE US PART 2

Joining me to discuss some of the challenges facing the production of quality audio descriptions are Eric Wickstrom, Director of Audio Description at International Digital Center – IDC, and Rhys Lloyd, Head of Studios at Descriptive Video Works.

We're not just talking about the problems. These two offer some real, tangible solutions to many of the most pressing obstacles facing broadcast & streaming audio description.

I couldn't think of a better way to conclude this two-part episode and the 2023 Flipping the Script season.

If you haven't listened to part one, pause here and click the link below to check it out. When you're done, come right back…glad you're back!! Let's go!

Listen
https://reidmymind.com/flipping-the-script-on-audio-description-no-one-will-save-us/

Image Description: Alt= "Graphic: Amidst the isolation of a barren island and beach, an eerie scene unfolds. The darkness is punctuated only by the desperate silhouette of people, grasping towards a distant beam of light in the starry night sky. The text reads: NO ONE WILL SAVE US PART TWO."

Flipping the Script on Audio Description: NO ONE WILL SAVE US Part 2 Discussing challenges and solutions to the production of audio description with Eric Wickstrom, Director of AD at IDC and Rhys Lloyd Head of Studios at DVW.

Episode: Flipping the Script on Audio Description: NO ONE WILL SAVE US

Going beyond the mainstream of audio description conversation is the objective of Flipping the Script. But if that conversation promotes advocacy, then it just makes sense for the podcast.

In this two-part series, we're looking at what we, all of us who appreciate AD and want to see it improve, can do about those things jeopardizing its future growth.
Today, we deal with what seems to be the inevitable comparison of audio descriptions to captions. Michael McNeely, a Toronto-based Deafblind lawyer, joins us to talk about captions. Are they really the North Star that should be guiding how we advocate for audio description?

Press the link to listen.

Image Description: Alt= "Graphic: Amidst the isolation of a barren island and beach, an eerie scene unfolds. The darkness is punctuated only by the desperate silhouette of people, grasping towards a distant beam of light in the starry night sky. The text reads: NO ONE WILL SAVE US."

Flipping the Script on Audio Description: NO ONE WILL SAVE US How should we, as those who care about AD, best advocate for its improvement? Are captions really the guide for how we proceed?

Episode: Flipping the Script on Audio Description: We Are Worthy
Originally posted June 2022

I'm excited to shine a spotlight on Nefertiti Matos Olivaras. She's a bilingual, Blind Voice talent specializing in Audio Description. In addition to narration, Nefertiti is a Quality Control Specialist, workshop facilitator, AD advocate, and writer.

Unfortunately, it's that last role, writer, that still continues to be a bit controversial. It's expected that those without an understanding of blindness would doubt your ability, but receiving that from those within the community is another thing altogether.

In this series, it's our objective to explore the exciting things taking place in the world of Audio Description that are less likely to be discussed. Perhaps the conversations we have here can filter through and affect the overall discussion. That said, it feels like a great time to remind or inform everyone that Blind people started Audio Description. Even though several people have been trying to make this fact understood, I'm still not sure it is a part of the general AD conversation.

Today, I'm less interested in proving to mainstream society that Blind people are fully capable and possess lots of talents. It doesn't feel right having to convince people of our own humanity. However, I do understand that because these ablest ideas are so engrained into our society, many of us who are Blind or have low vision can unknowingly internalize these ideas and project them onto each other.

In this conversation, we talk about Nefertiti's early experience with inaccessibility, ableist thoughts and the impact it had on her own life, her decision to pursue a passion, and the response from the AD community when it was announced that she was writing a description for an all Blind AD production project…

Hopefully, this conversation can filter through to all non-believers; we are worthy!

Want to continue the conversation? Join the Audio Description Twitter Community.

Image Description: In vintage tan and black film, the words Flipping the script on audio Description" are in capital letters; We are worthy" underneath. Framed in the center is a photo of Nefertiti wearing a red top with light makeup on her brown eyes and full lips. She has clear brown skin and brown highlighted hair and smiles toward the camera. Underneath the photo in capital letters reads, Reid My Mind Radio.

Episode: Flipping the Script on Audio Description: In the Making
Originally posted June 2022

I'm excited to kick off the 2022 FTS season with my friend and colleague, the Access Artist, and Reid My Mind Radio Alum Cheryl Green. We're talking about compliance-based AD versus a more creative approach to developing descriptions.

We hear from Prof. Arseli Dokumaci of Concordia University and the Director of the Access in the Making Lab in Montreal, Canada, who first invited Cheryl to help her and the AIM team explore the value of the creative approach to Audio Description.
We hear directly from workshop attendees about their projects and some of the many benefits of viewing AD through a creative lens.

Today, we're going to pull on the edges a bit and explore how AD itself is artistic and can be that inspiration, a catalyst for a new work of art.

Rather than talking about making AD, we're talking about AD in the making!
Because, in this series, we're going beyond the mainstream AD conversation.
We're Flipping the Script on Audio Description!

Image Description: AUDIO-DESCRIPTION-CHEMISTRY - alt=" Light blue lab with series of beakers and two large flasks with the initial A in white on the right flask and the letter D in white on the left flask. In the middle is a chemistry formula with movies incorporated in the cell. Jurassic on the top, Avatar2 in the second, and Popeye in the last cell. Audio description in white letters on the top of the page and Reid My Mind Radio on the bottom.

Flipping the Script on Audio Description: In the Making Kicking off this 2022 FTS season, we’re exploring how AD itself is not only artistic, but how it can be that inspiration, a catalyst for a new work of art.

Episode: Black Art White Voices: A Flipping the Script Prequel
Originally posted June 2022

Ever since producing the episode on Black Panther, among several critiques about the audio description, I voiced my complaint about using white narrators to voice what are obviously Black films. In general, AD narrators who are not from the culture of the film, which is obviously culturally specific, feel extremely disruptive and insensitive.

There’s been a significant amount of discussion on this topic here and elsewhere. It’s something I was hoping to see the Audio Description industry improve. To some extent, that is the case, but when I finally sat down to watch Judas and the Black Messiah, a film about the FBI’s murder of Fred Hampton – Chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party, I couldn’t believe what I heard.

Black Panther? It’s starting to feel like a conspiracy… Here we go again!
Plus:
* Hear how you can help make a change
* Here about the next season: Flipping the Script on Audio Description.
* PodAccess Survey – If you’re a Deaf/Disabled Podcaster content creator or a consumer of Deaf/Disabled content, you’re going to want to know about this.

Image Description: Black-art-White-voice-FLIPPING-THE-SCRIPT-PREQUEL. A row of yellow light bulbs against a red horizontal border above and below the white movie screen. You are invited to REID MY MIND RADIO ENTERTAINMENT under the red frame. Black Art/White Voices: Flipping the script prequel on the following line in Bold Black capital letters. The picture is of a theater with red velvet chairs facing a white screen with movie images of Black Panther, Insecure, Judas, and the Black Messiah showing an all-black cast. There are two pictures of a blurry white man and a blurry white woman underneath the movie images.

Black Art White Voices: A Flipping the Script Prequel What’s so challenging about the idea that Black Art, films televisionh, theater, BIPOC art in general deserves to be described by those of that culture?

Episode: Young Gifted Black & Disabled – The Price of Blind Girl Magic
Originally posted November 2021

Jeanetta Price is an advocate, writer, spoken word artist, and the CEO of Blind Girl Magic. She’s using her talents and experience to reach out to women adjusting to vision loss.

I can’t think of a better way to kick off this final season of 2021 than with a bit of magic! Not that hocus pocus stuff. Rather, the kind of magic that we all possess somewhere inside.

In this episode, we’re taken on a magical journey that includes familiar experiences, unexpected turns, and passionate spoken word poetry.

I’m not a magician, but today, please allow me to show you one of my hidden talents; I can Reid your mind!

Image Description: Blind Girl Magic Logo: Blind Girl is written in bold black letters, outlined in white. The white cane is between the G and R, Symbolizing the letter I in Girl. Magic is written in bold red letters outlined in black and white, accompanied by black stars.

Young Gifted Black & Disabled - The Price of Blind Girl Magic Kicking off this final season of 2021 with advocate, writer, spoken word artist and the CEO of Blind Girl Magic, Ms. Jeanetta Price.