Endeavor to Connect

About Endeavor to Connect

Our mission is to initiate and foster meaningful connections between members of the blind/visually impaired community and society at large. We aim to connect people with resources, provide a platform to share experiences, and tell stories of resilience and courage. Visual impairment and blindness affect a large percentage of the population in one way or another, and we want to help people learn, adapt, and move forward with their lives. In Endeavor to Connect, we engage in deep, honest conversations with people who have been touched by blindness in various ways. We will speak with people who have found themselves unexpectedly thrust into a new life, to those who work on breaking down the challenges that visual impairment and blindness bring with them, to caregivers with their own perspective on vision loss. We will take you inside the world of doctors, rehabilitation specialists, developers of adaptive technology, advocates for accessibility, and many more. By taking such a diverse approach, we aim to shed light on the many influences that help to create a more inclusive world. Through these conversations, we aim to raise awareness of the challenges people face — but also of what is possible when we manage to break down these barriers. We want to change the public perception of what it means to have a visual impairment, and we want to encourage communities to prioritize accessibility and inclusion. We are convinced that the best way to show people that blindness is a different way of experiencing the world rather than the end of a meaningful life is to give people their own voices, and let them share their own stories and insights.

Publisher

Blind Endeavors

Category

health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

3 Mar 2025

Latest episode

15 May 2026

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 May 2026

   Kilimanjaro: Return Home

   In the final chapter of this three-part Kilimanjaro series, Steve Baskis shares the emotional and physical realities of making the final push to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and returning home afterward. Through exhaustion, altitude, cold, illness, and trust, Steve reflects on what it means to climb as a blind veteran and how teamwork becomes essential on the mountain. This episode also features a powerful conversation with guide Celiann Gonzalez, who shares her experience supporting blind climbers through the expedition and the life-changing moment when temporary snow blindness forced her to rely on others for guidance herself. Together, they explore disability, resilience, vulnerability, adaptation, and the lasting impact of adventure long after the climb ends. This episode concludes the Kilimanjaro story project and highlights the importance of communication, trust, and challenging assumptions about blindness and what is possible after loss. To follow future adventures, podcasts, videos, and community projects, visit https://blindendeavors.org

2. 

   16 Mar 2026

   Kilimanjaro: On the Mountain

   In Part Two of the Kilimanjaro series, the expedition begins. After a long journey across continents, Steve Baskis and the climbing team arrive in Tanzania to begin their ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. What follows is a raw, immersive look at life on the mountain—where weather, altitude, illness, and exhaustion test every member of the team. Through field recordings captured along the trail, listeners experience the climb step by step. From the logistics at the national park gate to the muddy trails, cold camps, and long days of hiking at altitude, the mountain quickly reminds the team that reaching the summit will require resilience, trust, and teamwork. Along the way, the expedition brings together an extraordinary group of climbers, including fellow blinded veterans Lonnie Bedwell and Aaron Hale. Aaron, who is both blind and deaf, approaches the mountain with remarkable determination after completing an ultra-distance run across Tanzania to reach the base of the climb. For Steve, the mountain is also an opportunity to document what adventure sounds like when experienced without sight. Through conversations, environmental sounds, and candid moments from the trail, listeners hear the rhythm of the climb—the rain on the trail, the voices guiding each step, the laughter among teammates, and the songs of the Tanzanian porters who call Kilimanjaro home. But as the team pushes higher, the mountain begins to take its toll. Weather slows progress, the trail becomes slick and unpredictable, and illness spreads among the climbers. At high camp, exhausted but determined, the team prepares for the most difficult part of the journey: the midnight summit push. To explore the full Kilimanjaro Story Project—including the Endeavor Journal blog posts, the full three-part podcast series, and additional media from the expedition—visit: https://blindendeavors.org/on-the-mountain-to-tell-the-story-a-blind-endeavors-foundation-mission-to-kilimanjaro/

3. 

   16 Feb 2026

   Kilimanjaro: Before the Climb

   In Episode One of this three-part series, host Steve Baskis begins documenting an extraordinary expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro — the tallest mountain on the African continent. Three blind veterans, Steve Baskis, Lonnie Bedwell, and Aaron Hale, prepare to take on one of the world's most iconic summits. Each man carries a powerful story of resilience, service, and rebuilding after vision loss, and together they are setting out to challenge both the mountain and the limits others place on blindness. In this opening chapter, Steve introduces the mission behind the series, shares what it means to document the climb from a blind perspective, and sets the stage for what lies ahead. Listeners will also hear directly from climbers Lonnie Bedwell and Aaron Hale in personal phone conversations recorded during the preparation phase. This is not just a story about reaching the summit — it's a story about what is possible after loss. Follow the full expedition story and ongoing updates here: https://blindendeavors.org/on-the-mountain-to-tell-the-story-a-blind-endeavors-foundation-mission-to-kilimanjaro/ To explore more content and updates, visit: https://blindendeavors.org

4. 

   15 Jan 2026

   Navigating Relationships and Communication When One Partner Is Blind

   Host Steve Baskis and Ally share their experiences navigating relationships when one partner is blind, emphasizing communication, independence, and mutual respect in the absence of visual cues in this interview episode.

5. 

   15 Dec 2025

   End of Year Gratitude and a Call Forward to 2026

   Host Steve Baskis expresses gratitude to the Endeavor to Connect community, reflecting on connection and inviting listeners to contribute ideas for the podcast's future.

6. 

   15 Oct 2025

   Staring Into Darkness: Reflections on Blindness and Mental Health

   Host Steve Baskis shares his reflections on blindness and mental health, drawing from his experiences of vision loss during military service and discussing challenges of recovery, isolation, and adaptation.

7. 

   15 Sept 2025

   Guided by the River: Team River Runner’s Mission with Joe Mornini

   Executive Director Joe Mornini discusses Team River Runner's adaptive paddling programs for veterans with host Steve Baskis, highlighting the organization's impact on physical and mental well-being through community and shared experiences; this is an interview.

8. 

   15 Aug 2025

   Moving Is Living: Lonnie Bedwell’s Journey to the Explorers Grand Slam

   Host Steve Baskis interviews blind veteran and adventurer Lonnie Bedwell about his journey to the Explorers Grand Slam and the mindset that turns obstacles into opportunities.

9. 

   15 Jul 2025

   The Last Ascent: Reflections from Blind Veterans in Crested Butte

   Host Steve Baskis interviews blind and visually impaired veterans on a mountain hike in Crested Butte, exploring how adaptive sports and camaraderie reignite purpose and connection after vision loss.

10. 

    15 Jun 2025

    Living Blind by Design: A Day Inside Steve Baskis' Accessible World

    Steve Baskis, a blind U.S. Army veteran, demonstrates how adaptive technology and innovative design foster independence in his daily life, offering listeners a new perspective on living without sight in this interview.

11. 

    15 May 2025

    Beginning the Journey: Steve Baskis on Blindness, Recovery, and Possibility

    In this first episode of Endeavor to Connect, host Steve Baskis shares his personal story of navigating life after sudden blindness due to a combat injury in Iraq. Steve, a blind Army veteran and founder of the Blind Endeavors Foundation, uses Apple’s built-in screen reader, VoiceOver, to independently guide himself through 16 thoughtful questions. He speaks candidly about the emotional impact of vision loss, adapting to a new reality, the role of technology in gaining independence, and the power of connecting with others who’ve been through similar experiences. VoiceOver is a screen reader that allows blind and low vision users to interact with Apple devices using audio feedback and keyboard commands. Learn more about VoiceOver here: https://www.apple.com/accessibility/vision/ To dive deeper into this episode, including additional insights and reflections from Steve’s story, visit the following blog post written by Susanne Meyer. She expands on topics Steve touches on and offers more detail for those wanting to explore further: [Insert blog post link here] To learn more about the Blind Endeavors Foundation or to share your story, visit https://blindendeavors.org or email Steve directly at steve@blindendeavors.org. Thank you for listening, and we hope you’ll join us for future episodes as we connect, share, and explore what’s possible after vision loss.

12. 

    3 Mar 2025

    Endeavor to Connect Intro

    Our mission is to initiate and foster meaningful connections between members of the blind/visually impaired community and society at large. We aim to connect people with resources, provide a platform to share experiences, and tell stories of resilience and courage. Visual impairment and blindness affect a large percentage of the population in one way or another, and we want to help people learn, adapt, and move forward with their lives. In Endeavor to Connect, we engage in deep, honest conversations with people who have been touched by blindness in various ways. We will speak with people who have found themselves unexpectedly thrust into a new life, to those who work on breaking down the challenges that visual impairment and blindness bring with them, to caregivers with their own perspective on vision loss. We will take you inside the world of doctors, rehabilitation specialists, developers of adaptive technology, advocates for accessibility, and many more. By taking such a diverse approach, we aim to shed light on the many influences that help to create a more inclusive world. Through these conversations, we aim to raise awareness of the challenges people face — but also of what is possible when we manage to break down these barriers. We want to change the public perception of what it means to have a visual impairment, and we want to encourage communities to prioritize accessibility and inclusion. We are convinced that the best way to show people that blindness is a different way of experiencing the world rather than the end of a meaningful life is to give people their own voices, and let them share their own stories and insights.

Who has been a guest on Endeavor to Connect

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Ally
• Joe Mornini
• Lonnie Bedwell
• blind and visually impaired veterans

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 20 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

41

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

Contact Endeavor to Connect

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Endeavor to Connect