1) Episode Summary

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow continues the sports series with a conversation about team sports, adaptive recreation, and the deeper personal growth that comes through play. Guest Ashley Thomas, founder of Bridge to Sports, shares her own story of living with spina bifida, becoming a wheelchair user, discovering sport later in life, and eventually competing at a world-class level in kayaking.

Ashley brings a powerful perspective to the conversation: sport is not just about competition. It is a tool for confidence, independence, resilience, teamwork, communication, and self-discovery. She shares an unforgettable story about doing her first 5K with her daughter, where poor planning turned into a lesson in humility, teamwork, and learning how to communicate needs clearly.

The episode also explores the value of asking for help, how to approach a team environment when you feel like the “new person,” and why it is important to keep trying even when fear, discouragement, or past rejection make it tempting to stay small. Ashley also discusses adaptive team sports and activities that can work well for blind and low-vision athletes, including beep baseball, bocce, cycling, kayaking, and other adaptive options.

The heart of the episode is simple and strong: it is never too late to play, never too late to try, and never too late to discover what you are capable of.

2) Contact Info

Guest / Organization
Ashley Thomas
Founder, Bridge to Sports

Aftersight
Aftersight
Email: contact@aftersight.org

Producer
Jonathan Price
Podcast and Program Producer, Aftersight

3) Show Credits

Show: Navigating Life with Vision Loss
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest: Ashley Thomas
Producer: Jonathan Price
Organization: Aftersight

4) Chapter Markers

00:02 — Kim introduces the sports series and guest Ashley Thomas
01:21 — Ashley shares her background, disability, and love for sport
02:58 — Why sport can be adapted for everyone
05:45 — The deeper benefits of team sports beyond the game itself
07:21 — Ashley’s first race story and lessons in humility and teamwork
21:41 — Finding the sport you love versus the one you are best at
22:29 — How to ask for help and communicate your needs clearly
31:11 — Body positioning, posture, and practical sport readiness
34:45 — Beep baseball and what it teaches about blind athletic skill
37:23 — Blind soccer, hockey, and starting what does not yet exist
39:16 — Bocce as an adaptive team sport option
42:08 — Kayaking and other adaptive opportunities for blind athletes
43:13 — Ashley’s closing encouragement: just do it

• (00:00) - Tempo: 120.0

1) Episode Summary

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow continues the 16-week sports series with a deep dive into goalball—a fast-paced Paralympic sport designed specifically for blind and low-vision athletes.

Kim is joined by Lisa Tarkowski, a six-time Paralympic medalist and multi-sport Paralympian (goalball and track & field), and EJ Whitney, a coach and strength/conditioning professional who has worked closely with U.S. goalball athletes.

Together, they break down:

• How goalball started after World War II and evolved into a Paralympic sport
• How the game is played (court layout, positions, rules, shot clock, eyeshades, ball with bells)
• Offensive and defensive strategies, including spin throws and sound-based deception
• What it takes to train and compete at the elite/Paralympic level
• Injury prevention, recovery, and strength training for high-level goalball athletes
• How beginners can get started recreationally through local clubs and demos
• Why goalball is such a powerful sport for confidence, teamwork, communication, and skill development

The conversation also highlights how adaptive sports environments can become more inclusive through tactile cues, clear coaching communication, and accessible training spaces.


2) Contact Info

Guest / Organization Info

• Lisa Tarkowski — Paralympic goalball athlete (Team USA / Paralympic goalball)
• EJ Whitney — Goalball coach / strength & conditioning support (Turnstone; Team USA goalball training context)
• Resource mentioned: USABA (U.S. Association of Blind Athletes) for goalball information, videos, and recreational pathways (referenced in episode/show notes)

Aftersight

• Show: Navigating Life with Vision Loss (Aftersight)
• Network: Aftersight Podcasts / Aftersight Originals

Producer Credits

• Host: Kim Wardlow
• Producer: Jonathan Price

3) Show Credits

• Podcast: Navigating Life with Vision Loss
• Episode Topic: Goalball, Paralympic competition, and accessible sports pathways
• Host: Kim Wardlow
• Guests: Lisa Tarkowski and EJ Whitney
• Producer: Jonathan Price
• Network: Aftersight

4) Chapter Markers

• 00:03 — Kim introduces the sports series and today’s focus on goalball
• 02:13 — Lisa Tarkowski shares her background and how she got into goalball
• 04:39 — Goalball basics: court layout, gameplay, and defensive objective
• 07:08 — Throwing styles, velocity, movement, and offensive techniques
• 09:33 — Listening, bells in the ball, and sound-based strategy
• 11:59 — Positions explained: wings vs. center and physical demands
• 14:23 — How defensive play has evolved (from standing to low-to-ground play)
• 15:03 — What it feels like to compete at the Paralympics
• 17:20 — Common misconceptions about goalball and Paralympic awareness
• 18:41 — Offensive rules, shot clock, and penalty strategy
• 21:01 — Beginner throws and first steps for learning the game
• 23:25 — Lisa’s advice for new players and younger athletes starting out
• 25:48 — Elite training, strength & conditioning, and injury prevention
• 28: ...

Episode Summary

Navigating Life with Vision Loss launches a new sports series—covering everything from beginner-friendly fitness routines to extreme sports—and kicks things off with beep baseball (often called “beepball”), an adaptive version of baseball designed for blind and low-vision athletes.

Guest Ethan Johnston shares his background (growing up as the only blind kid in a small Missouri town, originally from Ethiopia) and explains how sports and music became “therapy” for him. He walks listeners through how beep baseball works—key rule differences from traditional baseball, defensive positioning, the role of a sighted pitcher and spotters, why everyone wears blindfolds for fairness, and how outs/runs are determined.

The conversation also explores confidence-building for new players, practice drills, the physical intensity of the sport, travel and camaraderie, the season schedule (including tournaments and the “World Series” style championship), equipment costs, and concrete first steps for getting involved—either as a player or as a sighted volunteer (pitcher/spotter).

Contact Info

Getting involved (as shared in the episode):

• Team listings + schedule: NBBA.org (as referenced in the conversation)
• To watch games: search YouTube/Facebook Live for “beep baseball” + your nearest team name (examples mentioned: “Gateway Archers”)

Aftersight (show network):

• Email: feedback@aftersight.org
• Phone: (720) 712-8856

Producer credit:

• Produced by Jonathan Price (Aftersight)

Show Credits

• Podcast: Navigating Life with Vision Loss (Aftersight Original)
• Host: Kim Wardlow
• Guest: Ethan Johnston
• Producer: Jonathan Price

Chapter Markers

• 00:00 — Welcome + sports series kickoff
• 02:23 — Ethan’s background + how he found beep baseball in Colorado
• 04:48 — How the game works: two bases, zones, defense setup
• 07:15 — Pitcher/batter on same team + strikes/innings + mercy-rule talk
• 09:40 — Safety + beeping ball + why you don’t “throw to first”
• 12:02 — Blindfolds + spotters + communication and lane integrity
• 14:14 — How an out is made + close calls + volunteer officiating
• 16:35 — Home run rules + highlight plays + rare catches/double plays
• 19:00 — Building confidence for new players + running to the correct base
• 21:20 — Practice drills + timing + why hitting in the air matters
• 23:20 — Season timeline + training/conditioning routines
• 25:45 — Travel, fundraising, and team camaraderie
• 27:47 — Youth participation + age realities + lack of “minor league”
• 30:12 — Equipment costs + durability (balls/bases)
• 32:38 — How to join: NBBA.org + joining a nearby team even out-of-state
• 34:48 — Longevity in the sport + older players still producing
• 36:22 — Favorite positions + hardest skill (don’t listen to the ball)
• 38:44 — Veteran mindset + unforgettable moments
• 40:52 — How to attend/watch games + final thoughts
• 43:09 — Aftersight show plug + closing remarks

• (00:00) - Tempo: 120.0