Dangerous Vision with Randy Cohen – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Before Pauline Dowell became legally blind in her 40s she was an artist who loved to sail. After her diagnosis, she needed time to get used to things, but she wasn't willing to let go of the things she loved.  In the latest Dangerous Vision episode, Pauline talks with Randy Cohen about her love of sailing.  From a casual sail around Boston Harbor to competitive regattas Pauline shares with Randy her decision to stay in the game.  Since she loved sailing so much she decided to make a life choice that she lives with every day.  She lives in Boston Harbor on her sailboat that she shares with her guide dog Dora. 

Pauline credits the Carroll Center in Boston and Courage Sailing's Blind sailing instructions for giving her the training and confidence to set sail. Pauline inspires others to sail as well.  In 2019 she was a finalist for the Holman Prize, an international prize created to change perceptions about what blind people are capable of doing. Pauline is creating the first all woman's blind sailing team set to compete in the Newport to Bermuda Regatta.

She encourages everyone who may be going through similar challenges to just go out in the world and find what’s out there! Join clubs like Boston Blind Sailing.  Make sure to challenge yourself daily and set up goals even if they are small goals like going outside or seeing a movie in a theater. 

Boston Blind Sailing

Courageous Sailing

The Carroll Center

The Hadley School

Books/ Media Discussed

Maiden Voyage Tracy Edwards Story

Infinite Jest David Foster Wallace

Strong Motion

What does Randy Cohen and Cyrus Habib have in common? Vision loss /blindness is top of mind. Both went to Ivy League schools--Randy went to Harvard and Cyrus to Columbia then Yale Law School.  But it is something called parliamentary debate that they bond over.   Cyrus opens up about his decision to leave politics, the pull of becoming a Jesuit Priest, and the importance of being a mentor.  Cyrus calls out his friendship with Erik Weihenmayer as being a pivotal relationship in his adult life.  Cyrus encourages us all to be a mentor to someone.

New York Times: A Politician Takes a Sledgehammer to His Own Ego

Reading List

No Barriers By Erik Weihenmayer

Far From The Tree  By Andrew Soloman

Mountains Beyond Mountains By Tracy Kidder

House By Tracy Kidder

Soul of the New Machine  By Tracy Kidder

Part 2 of Randy's conversation with Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck passes between basketball and blindness.  Wyc's candid conversation shares the human sides of Celtics legends Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen.  However, he shares his most touching story about his son, Campbell.  (this is at 30:20). There is much about Wyc that isn't talked about here but is worth noting. 

1. The French Lick Band.  

2. Wyc and his wife Emilia own a Tequila brand named Cincoro with other NBA superstars/owners including  Michael Jordan, Jeanie Buss, and Wes Edens. 

3. Wyc is chair of the board for Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.   

This is the second part of a two-part episode with Wyc.  For more information visit www.mabvi.org/resources/dangerous-vision/ 

There are few men in the Boston area who have done as much for the blind community than NBA Celtics owner and philanthropist Wyc Grousbeck.  While he is a high profile owner of an NBA team it is clear from this conversation he is a devoted and loving father. In mid-November, at the PRX Podcast Garage in Boston, Dangerous Vision hosted a LIVE  conversation between host Randy Cohen and Wyc Grousbeck.

Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired Sassy Outwater-Wright welcomed the audience mainly from the blind community by saying "there is no right way to do blind. The Massachusetts Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired or MABVI is here to support you where you are in your journey." She went on to say there are many voices in the blind community and this is one of the reasons why she loves the podcast, there is room for discussion and dialogue. 

This is the first part of a two-part episode with Wyc.  For more information visit www.mabvi.org/resources/dangerous-vision/ 

In the latest episode of Dangerous Vision, Randy Cohen talks with Marla Runyan,  a former world-class American track and field athlete and marathon runner who is legally blind. At age nine, she was diagnosed with Stargardts disease, a form of juvenile macular degeneration that causes progressive vision loss.

Randy and Marla talk about running, determination, and reinvention.  Her running career is impressive.  Today Marla is Para Athlete Manager at the Boston Athletic Association. The B.A.A., established in 1887, is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running, known for the Boston Marathon. For more information visit  www.mabvi.org/resources/dangerous-vision

Randy Cohen and Fernando Albertorio have a lot in common. Both are connected to Harvard and MIT, both have an entrepreneurial spirit, and both are living with vision loss. Randy lives with retinitis pigmentosa and Fernando with albinism. Fernando talks about growing up in Puerto Rico with this condition, the valuable lessons he learned from his father, and his mother's indomitable personality. Fernando creates products that enhance people's lives, as the CEO of the Sunu Band. Designed for when you can’t easily use sight or due to a vision impairment, Sunu Band enables you to walk and travel with confidence. Sunu Band is the only smart-band that guides your way around obstacles. It uses sonar or echolocation to detect objects up to 16 feet or 5.5 meters away. For more information visit www.mabvi.org/resources/dangerous-vision/

In this episode of Dangerous Vision Randy Cohen talks with Alison Lynch. Alison may not be your typical Millennial but she is the first Millennial Randy has spoken with. She drives her more than avocado toast? Lets start with the law, running, and the bonus of living in New York as a person who is legally blind. Alison has Achromatopsia i--this s a condition characterized by partial or total absence of color vision. For more information on Alison and achromatopsia visit https://www.mabvi.org/resources/dangerous-vision/

Jason Romero has earned his nickname "Relentless Romero." He is a lawyer, a Fortune 500 business Executive, and a runner. In fact, running has launched his current profession as a motivational speaker. In the 14th episode of Dangerous Vision, Randy and Jason talk about living with retinitis pigments and sight loss, and Jason shares how he has turned certain challenges into wonderful opportunities. His epic run across America is a lesson in perseverance and true grit. For more information on this episode visit www.mabvi.org/resources/dangerous-vision/ For information on Jason visit www.relentlessromero.com/

In the 13th episode of Dangerous Vision, Randy Cohen talks with Sara Minkara, founder and CEO of Empowerment Through Integration (ETI), a nonprofit committed to developing a more inclusive society. Sara has a long list of accomplishments, including being named a Forbes Magazine "30 Under 30". Sara and Randy talk about education, their mutual love of math, and the camp Sara created in Lebanon-- a summer camp for both blind and sighted children.

One is a professor at a large east-coast university and the other is a professor at a large west-coast university. Harvard meets the University of California Berkeley| HBS meets UC Berkeley| Randy meets Georgina.

In episode 12 of Dangerous Vision the Podcast host Randy Cohen chats up Georgina Kleege of the English Department. Their fields of study couldn't be any different (Math vs English) yet being a part of the blindness community quickly forges a fast friendship. Georgina shares her personal rants and resentments towards Helen Keller; "'Blind Rage: Letters to Helen Keller '(2006) transcends the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction to re-imagine the life and legacy of this celebrated disability icon.

For more information on Ms. Kleege and Dangerous Vision please visit https://www.mabvi.org/resources/dangerous-vision/