[1] Introduction
This page is about audio on the Web by, about and for blind and partially sighted people. Most of the links are podcast feeds that you paste into a podcast receiver program, such as
Accessible Podcatcher or
Juice. Some are straightforward audio and will play in
Windows Media Player or
Real Alternative. Yet others just speak for themselves, and you don't need to do anything special to hear them.
Please note that not all podcast feeds work in all podcatching software. If you have problems with a feed, please try another software package.
This page was becoming bloated and hard to navigate, so I've split off the non-blind podcasts into a separate
Podcast Miscellany page
If your podcast isn't listed here, please get in touch and I'll take a listen. I don't pretend this page is comprehensive. However, you can find many thousands more podcasts in the directories below.
I'm in the process of revising this page, which had become a bit dog-eared in recent times. Gone are some of the old podcasts that haven't updated themselves for years, and some that plain don't work. The improvements will go on, promise.
Podcasts that are worth listing but haven't been updated this year are marked with [Inactive].
Podcast and Audio Directories
Audio versions of articles - list of sources
BBC Podcast Directory
CastRoller is a new social network that lets you search for podcasts, blog about it, tell your millions of friends, and generally gives you too much to do.
Google Podcast and RSS Search is one of the programs included in the webbie.org.uk accessible programs package. You simply type in your search terms and select any feed you want included in the Accessible Podcatcher and/or the Accessible RSS Reader. You may have to download the whole Webbie package to get this. Visit
webbie.org.uk.
Public Radio Podcasts
Podcast Alley
Podcast.com
PodcastDirectory.com
Yahoo! Podcasts
Blind Podcast Lists
Whitestick Blind Podcasts Page Tom Lorimer, updated often.
Eyesight-related Podcasts from aPodder.org.
Got a blog? Podcast it!
A number of services offer to turn your blog into a podcast with text-to-speech conversion. Experience tells me that they don't all work that well. One that seems really good is
Odiogo - get a free membership if you want to try it.
Blind Radio Stations
Mushroom FM Internet radio station. - The home of the Fun guys - Jonathan Mosen, Brian Hartgen, Jeff Bishop and others have set up this new Internet radio station.
Listen (Windows Media)
Listen (Winamp and mobile devices)
Listen (Real Media)
The UK now has a full-time radio station for blind and partially sighted people,
Insight Radio, which you may know as VIP On Air.
Listen to Insight (mp3 stream). It's also on 101 FM in Glasgow.
The Global Voice - "The radio station that helps the world's blind and sighted communities see eye to eye" - varied programming, including all sorts of music, DX radio, assistive technology, cooking ...
Listen mp3 Broadband
Listen on dial-up (mp3)
TheGlobalVoice Twitter page
ACB Radio is a well-established station in the United States, with several channels available on the web and through its own
ACB Radio Tuner. There are 5 streams on ACB Radio - many more listening options on the web site
Disabilities at Work - internet show on Wednesdays about businesses and disability. on Voice America Business Internet Radio.
Redstone.fm community radio for Redhill, Reigate and Banstead community radio in S. E. England, mainly staffed by blind and visually impaired people. So far, the station has failed to get a broadcast licence, and is considering its options for the future (Aug. 2010)..
SAMNET and Vision Australia radio stations removed for the time being, as I can't get any joy from either of them.
The Radio Storm - brought to you by the folks who also brought you the Fred's Head Database. Not having enough to do already, they're running a radio station as well! Listen using
Windows Media Player
Winamp
Real Player
Quicktime
Able Radio - dsability station based in Pontypool, South Wales.
Listen (MP3/Windows Media)
[2] Audio Magazines
Some of these are really non-podcast radio.
AudioScope - Radio-Telefis Eirann's radio magazine for blind people. (Real Media). The programme now also had a
Podcast Feed, but no longer seems to be running. The last of these was in March, 2008, but there is still an archive on the site.
Blind Ambitions - emphasis on dealing with blindness as a self-development issue. However, The Eyes On Employment and Sound of Sight broadcasts don't seem to be available at present. (Sept 2008).
Eyeway Radio Show from the Eyeway site in India. Hindi language. Weekly broadcast.
Focus Magazine - audio magazine for blind and partially sighted people in the Republic of Ireland from NCBI.
Hear and There - "hosted by Dave Uhlman, a visually impaired Accessibility Consultant, who gives his unique perspective on museums, nature walks, art shows or just about anyplace he can visit. Dave can put words to the visual so the listener can see and enjoy the experience" Available as what are called podcasts, but are not on a podcast feed.
InfoSound - information about living with sight loss.
Podcast feed
Playback Archives - recordings of the former cassette magazine Playback, available free online. CDs also available to buy.
FTP download site
Sound Prints weekly (new episode Weds evening, 10pm EST) from Kentucky Council of the Blind, including technology, job news.
Listen (mp3)
Sound Vision Ulster - RNIB Northern Ireland's monthly newsletter.
SoundAround - international magazine for visually impaired people. The site speaks for itself, so you don't need a screen reader.
Soundings, now also available as a
podcast. I'm sorry to report that the March, 2008 edition of Soundings will be the last. The organisation will close altogether at the end of that month.
Talking Computers - UK
-based computer magazine for visually impaired people. Screen reader is not required, but either
Real Player or
Real Alternative needs to be on your computer to play the audio. Put your screen reader on standby, and just navigate using the simple keystrokes.
(UK) Audio Network - links to many radio and other audio sources. Games and e-cards too. The site speaks without a screen reader. If I have the right information, this site has been the victim of hacker attacks recently (Sept 2010). Please
get more details here (self-voicing page) - it seems that UK is no longer part of the name, hence my slight confusion about which site we're talking about.
Podcast User Magazine - not audio, but hopefully interesting. Free
PDF file download. Loads of useful stuff. Now that
Adobe Reader has a Read Out Loud facility and useful Zoom options, PDF files are a better proposition than they used to be. If you still don't like Adobe Reader, you might like to try
Foxit.
[3] Blind Podcasts
These podcasts are by, for or about blind and partially sighted people.
@AccessTalk Podcast - presented by several visually impaired people, including Léonie Watson and Damon Rose.
Web Site
E-mail the team
ACB Radio Replay - wide variety of shows for and by blind people from the
ACB.
List of podcast feeds
Web site
Accessible-Devices.com Podcast - web site includes information on manufacturers and suppliers.
Web site
Action for Blind People - podcast from one of the UK's leading visual impairment organisations.
Web site.
AIRS PodCasts - details of about 70 podcasts from the Audio Internet Reading Service of Los Angeles, including blindness and technology.
Alvaro Gutierrez's Podcast (Low Vision Bureau) - not only for visually impaired people and their allies, but also sighted people who want to understand more about them.
Web Site
[Inactive] Anything Goes - the title says most of it. The host of "The DJD Invasion" on ACB Interactive now has his own podcast.
[Inactive] Blind Adults - Doug Oliver talks on aspects of life as a blind person.
Blog.
Blind Bargains technology reviews and demonstrations.
Web site
[Inactive] Blind Crawler Podcast - political issues, conspiracy theory, medical issues, cooking for the blind, music, humour, children's stories and technology.
Web Site - the
main BlindCrawler site also has JAWS scripts, Mac / VoiceOver stuff and more.
Blind Double Trouble - life with a blind couple.
Blog.
Blind Geek Zone - Rick Harman, a long-time contributor to BlindCoolTech, now has his own site. The audio page lists many of his podcasts, which you may also pick up at
BlindCoolTech.
BGZ Web Site
[Inactive] Blind Planet - The site's mission is to provide information of use to the blind community.
Web Site
[Inactive] Blind World Blog and Podcast - Shane Jackson, who works for Apple but doesn't speak for them, reviews new technology and presents sound-seeing tours.
Blind World Blog and Podcast Web Site
BlindCoolTech - Larry Skutchan and a host of contributors present technology, blind life, sound-seeing tours and events.
Web site.
Braille Forum presented by Earlene.
Web site.
Darcy and Holly Show. Blind couple talk about anything and everything.
Web site.
[Inactive] DC Night Out - sound-seeing tours and events. a blind man who inexplicably spends a lot of time in bars!
Blog.
Debbie Hazelton - blindness, complementary therapies, mysticism and even some ordinary life.
Web site.
[Inactive] EyePod Techcast - from Flying Blind who may have brought you the Top Tech Tidbits bulletin.
Web site. they also produce a
FB Tech Tips Podcast
Podcast Feed.
FSCast - from Freedom Scientific, suppliers of Jaws, Magic, etc.
Web site
Good Garbage - Fred & Kathy present "sounds of the world, blind friendly how-to episodes about the house and garden, and conversations with people about esoteric religion"
Web site
[Inactive] Guide Dog Podcast - American.
Web Site
GW Micro (makers of Window Eyes)
Web site.
Hear and There - places to visit in the United States, including those that offer good accessibility for blind and VI people. Presented by Dave Uhlman.
Web site
[Inactive] Heart-and-Music Radio - Tracey and Julie make very sweet music, playing their own and talking about a range of musical topics.
Web site.
[0] Main Menu
In Touch - BBC Radio 4 magazine programme for blind and partially sighted people now available as a podcast.
Web Site
InfoSound Podcast - weekly news briefings for blind and partially sighted people.
InfoSound Web Site
Jared Rimer's Technology Blog and Podcast
RSS Feed
[Inactive] Kelly Sapergia - new podcast, episode 2 has some Magnatune and Garagebandd.com.
Web site.
Klango Planet podcast (no feed yet as far as I know. Using the networking/media program Klango, which is made to be very accessible for blind people.
Kristian's lj full of randomness
Web Site
LibriVox Audiobooks podcast - books in the public domain read by volunteers.
Web Site - visit the
Librivox Podcast Page for much more information.
[Inactive] Life, According to Toonhead (was Toonhead's Rants).
Web site.
LightHouse (SF) for the Blind and Visually Impaired | Podcast - "The LightHouse is the largest agency providing direct service, advocacy and information to the blind and visually impaired community of Northern California. Since 1902, we have offered solutions to living with vision loss."
Web Site
[Inactive] Listen and Learn audio (LALA) - tutorials on Windows, Windows applications, Linux, mobile phones, screen readers, Braille and much more. Some tutorials are aimed at sighted people who don't know about these 'blind' topics.
Web site
lookpodcast's Podcast - "Welcome to the home of the Look Podcast, including Outlook. This is where you will find the Outlook Audio Magazine as well as extended audio articles from past eventsand other related Look audio. Subscribe via the likes of Itunes or Juice by using our Podcast Feed. Feel free to leave comments here or use the contact details we provide in the Shownotes for each Podcast. We'd love to hear from you... Enjoy!" A podcast from Look, for young people with a visual impairment.
Web Site
Mac-cessibility Network Podcast - Mac computers and other Apple devices.
Web Site
Main Menu - ACB Radio technology podcast.
Web site.
Malyn's Slice of Life podcast (new feed since summer, 2010) - Maria and Lynette in New York present many aspects of their lives.
Web Site
Mark Taylor's Candleshore Podcast - deals with personal philosophy, technology, radio drama and all sorts.
Blog.
Marrie's Funfilled Podcast - includes software reviews, items about music, and accessibility.
Web site
[Inactive] Megan's Melange of Random Ramblings - the old Ourmedia feed seems to have gone, but you can listen to mp3 files on this Livejournal page.
Mike Tech Show - Mike Smith gives tech news and demos.
Web site.
MitraJyothi Community Radio - based in India, this podcast includes various scientific and technological subjects.
Web Site - please note: the site can voice itself, just in case you get confused using a screen reader as well.
Movies for the blind - audio-described films.
Atom Feed
RSS Feed
Ouch! (
BBC Disability) - Actor Mat Fraser and comedian Liz Carr host the fortnightly disability talk show (you're not supposed to say podcast. or albino, or crip - it's political correctness gone mental). Listen for the politically incorrect bits and complain loudly. The quiz is called Vegetable, Vegetable, or Vegetable.
Web page
Our Place - Steve and Angie Nutt in the UK present sound seeing tours, technology and anything else they fancy.
Web Site
[0] Main Menu
Rain Report for blind radio hams.
Web site.
RRR FM - home of the Byteintoit podcast, which covers many technology and disability topics.
Web Site
Scott's Podcast - Scott Spaulding talks about technology blindness, disability and what's going on in Louisville, Kentucky.
Blog.
[Inactive] Screenless Switchers - Darcy and Holly bring you all the Mac news.
Web site. Can't find the podcast at present (1st Dec., 2007).
Second Vision - topics mainly for people with partial sight.
Center for the Partially Sighted web site
[Inactive] Serendipity Podcast, hosted by Caroline Ford. "A podcast of happy and accidental discoveries from the
UK
"
Web site.
SeroTalk Podcast and Blog - find out about the latest access technology, and take part by phone or e-mail. Produced by Serotek, makers of System Access.
Web Site
Shelly's Podcast by Shelly Brisbin - professional sounding podcast by a visually impaired woman. Technology, including Mac and iPod topics, music, politics, and occasionally visual impairment.
Web site.
Sendero Group Podcasts - from the makers of GPS systems for visually impaired people.
Web site
[0] Main Menu
[Inactive] T & T Consultancy Blog and Podcast - technology, including iPods, Sonata Radio, JAWS and supporting software.
Web site.
Tech Access Daily Tips
Web Site
Tech Access Weekly
Web Site
[Inactive] The Big Mix Music Matters - if it sounds good, it will get played, regardless of genre.
Web site.
[Inactive] The Bird Blind - Jerry Berrier presents bird sounds and other short recordings.
[Inactive] The Mosen Explosion Bloggy Bits Podcast.
The Simpsons as described by WGBH - mp3 files. Audio description by a Fox announcer.
The Wally World Wide Show - originally broadcast on ACB Radio.
Web Site
The White Noise Show - A show about all things Albinism. Sarah and Christina thought it was about time the albinism community had a voice. They both have albinism and are both legally blind.
.
Web site
[Inactive] The World of Byron Lee - up-and-coming ACB Radio presenter talks radio, computers, blindness and all sorts.
Byron's Radio Shows Page has notes on Byron's current activities.
Two Blind Squirrels.
Web site.
Unrestricted Access - Blind Mind News - ". . .a technology blog and podcast from blindmind.net, which features the latest tech news, reviews, interviews and advocacy issues affecting the blind and visually impaired."
Web Site
[Inactive] VIPodcasting (Paul Hopkins) - some great sound-seeing tours here.
Web site
Paul Hopkins on Twitter.
Web Axe Accessibility Tips - Denis in Detroit presents tips for web authors. Web site.
WTOE Radio Through Our Eyes from
NFB New Jersey.
Web site.