The Charles Bonnet Syndrome Podcast

About The Charles Bonnet Syndrome Podcast

This podcast is for people with Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS), their caregivers, and allies. It's a space to offer awareness, information, support and hope. CBS is a condition that causes visual hallucinations in people who are blind or visually impaired. Host Shaimond Foye and occasional co-hosts interview people with CBS, their caregivers, ambassadors, PhDs, and medical professionals. We also explore broader topics relevant to the visually impaired community, providing helpful information and resources. Hosts and guests share their insights and research as we all work together to make a positive difference in the lives of people living with this condition.

Publisher

Shaimond Foye

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Nov 2023

Latest episode

25 May 2026

Latest episodes

82 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 May 2026

   Episode 57: Chris Hord on Glaucoma, Charles Bonnet Syndrome, and Advocacy Through Prevent Blindness

   Host Shaimond interviews Christopher Hord, a writer, editor, vision health advocate, and host of Prevent Blindness’s monthly Focus on Eye Health Podcast. Hord describes rapid vision loss from glaucoma in early 2021, transitioning from manageable eyesight with glasses to legal blindness, with complete loss in his right eye and usable vision in his left. He shares experiencing Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS), including vivid hallucinations of crowds in the street and people in his home, later shifting mostly to patterns and textures after learning the condition’s name from his doctor; he also notes taking mirtazapine for bipolar disorder and later learning it is sometimes used for CBS. Hord explains Prevent Blindness’s ASPECT advocacy training and Capitol Hill lobbying, encourages community involvement, discusses adjusting to vision loss, using a white cane after mobility training, and previews releasing a cover of Neil Young’s “Ohio” under his The Manhattan Project. Listen to Chris’s podcast: https://preventblindness.org/the-focus-on-eye-health-podcast/ (https://preventblindness.org/the-focus-on-eye-health-podcast/) Learn more about Chris’s music: https://m-project.net/ (https://m-project.net/) Contact Chris: https://m-project.net/contact/ (https://m-project.net/contact/) For help with CBS, call 1-704-389-0160 For a link to attend Dr. Gary Cusick’s U.S.-based weekly virtual CBS support group and CBS caregivers support group, email Dr. Cusick at garymcusick@icloud.com For support or resources for CBS in the U.S., please visit https://marycarmelslight.com or https://www.charlesbonnet.com or email garymcusick@icloud.com For support or resources for CBS in the UK, please visit https://www.charlesbonnetsyndrome.uk or email judith@charlesbonnetsyndrome.uk For support or resources for CBS in Australia, please visit https://www.charlesbonnetsyndrome.org or email scot@charlesbonnetsyndrome.org The Charles Bonnet Syndrome Podcast Merchandise https://cbsyndromepodcast.com/merchandise Donate: https://ko-fi.com/cbsyndromepodcast 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:13 Christopher’s Vision Loss Story 02:51 Prevent Blindness and ASPECT 06:13 Focus on Eye Health Podcast 08:44 Living With CBS Hallucinations 14:47 Coping and Treatment Insights 18:22 Advocacy Training Explained 25:41 Music Career and New Single 32:21 Helping Others Adjust 35:33 Remaining Vision and Tech Challenges 38:52 Grief, Mindset, and Hope 41:03 Using a White Cane 44:13 Get Involved and Closing

2. 

   19 Apr 2026

   Episode 56: Dr. Leonid Skorin Jr. on His New Book, Charles Bonnet Syndrome, and Visual Hallucinations

   Host Shaimond welcomes board-certified neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Leonid Skorin Jr., returning guest and medical director/board member of Mary Carmel’s Light, to discuss his new book, "Charles Bonnet Syndrome and other Visual Hallucinations: Clinical Diagnosis and Management." Skorin explains he wrote it to broaden clinician awareness beyond neurology-focused literature and to help patients and caregivers, recruiting contributors including retina specialists, optometrists (including low-vision), an occupational therapist, and a psychologist, and involving trainees to encourage future research. The book covers negative vs. positive visual phenomena, illusions, hallucinations, entoptic phenomena, low-vision approaches, and 12 narrative case reports; he reads a case of a 100-year-old woman with CBS after severe vision loss. He also shares CBS history from Charles Bonnet’s 1760 account, discusses stigma, counseling, vision optimization, and provides publisher/discount details and online bonus materials. Book Title: Charles Bonnet Syndrome and other Visual Hallucinations: Clinical Diagnosis and Management. Book’s ISBN Number: 9781041059868 Publishers Website to Purchase Book: https://www.routledge.com/Charles-Bonnet-Syndrome-and-Other-Visual-Hallucinations-Clinical-Diagnosis-and-Management/Skorin-Cusick/p/book/9781041059868 (https://www.routledge.com/Charles-Bonnet-Syndrome-and-Other-Visual-Hallucinations-Clinical-Diagnosis-and-Management/Skorin-Cusick/p/book/9781041059868) Discount Code: 20% Discount with Code 26AFLY1 Code expires on June 30, 2026 Contact me at cbsyndromepodcast@gmail.com (mailto:cbsyndromepodcast@gmail.com) For help with CBS, call 1-704-389-0160 For a link to attend Dr. Gary Cusick’s U.S.-based weekly virtual CBS support group and CBS caregivers support group, email Dr. Cusick at garymcusick@icloud.com For support or resources for CBS in the U.S., please visit https://marycarmelslight.com or https://www.charlesbonnet.com or email garymcusick@icloud.com For support or resources for CBS in the UK, please visit https://www.charlesbonnetsyndrome.uk or email judith@charlesbonnetsyndrome.uk For support or resources for CBS in Australia, please visit https://www.charlesbonnetsyndrome.org or email scot@charlesbonnetsyndrome.org The Charles Bonnet Syndrome Podcast Merchandise https://cbsyndromepodcast.com/merchandise (https://cbsyndromepodcast.com/merchandise) Donate: https://ko-fi.com/cbsyndromepodcast (https://ko-fi.com/cbsyndromepodcast) Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:09 Why Write This Book 03:10 Building a Multidisciplinary Team 06:04 Teaching Story Behind the Book 08:54 What Readers Should Gain 13:44 History of Charles Bonnet 18:19 Defining CBS Key Features 24:33 Pseudo Hallucinations Explained 25:20 Ancient Cataract Surgery 28:20 Why Hallucinations Get Complex 30:58 How Common Is CBS in Clinic 32:35 Student Finds Hidden Cases 33:23 Explaining Phantom Vision 35:26 Counseling And Resources 36:53 Treatments That Can Help 38:16 Idea For CBS Clinics 39:32 Why Some Get CBS 41:00 How The Book Helps 46:10 Case Report Read Aloud 51:05 Autoscopy And Community Insights 53:21 Where To Buy The Book 56:36 Bonus Online Materials 57:52 Final Thanks And Wrap

3. 

   2 Jan 2026

   Episode 55: A Poetic Journey Through CBS

   In this episode of the Charles Bonnet Syndrome podcast, host Shaimond Foye welcomes back Duchess Antoinette McDonald-Ellis, a performance artist and creator. Antoinette shares a powerful poem that encapsulates her experiences living with Charles Bonnet Syndrome, illustrating the complexities of her relationship with the condition. The conversation delves into the daily struggles faced by individuals with CBS, including moments of confusion and fear, and how creative expression serves as a coping mechanism. Antoinette recounts a unique experience during a choir performance where she encountered a giant dancing Eskimo, highlighting the unpredictable nature of CBS. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of open conversations about CBS and the support within the community. 00:00 Introduction to The Charles Bonnet Syndrome Podcast 02:21 Antoinette's Poem: A Love Note to Charlie B 09:08 Understanding Charles Bonnet Syndrome Through Art 14:39 Experiencing Charles Bonnet Syndrome During Performance 20:09 Navigating Conversations About CBS Contact me at info@cbsyndromepodcast.com For help with CBS, call 1-704-389-0160 For a link to attend Dr. Gary Cusick’s U.S.-based weekly virtual CBS support group and CBS caregivers support group, email Dr. Cusick at garymcusick@icloud.com For support or resources for CBS in the U.S., please visit https://marycarmelslight.com or https://www.charlesbonnet.com or email garymcusick@icloud.com For support or resources for CBS in the UK, please visit https://www.charlesbonnetsyndrome.uk or email judith@charlesbonnetsyndrome.uk. For support or resources for CBS in Australia, please visit https://www.charlesbonnetsyndrome.org or email scot@charlesbonnetsyndrome.org The Charles Bonnet Syndrome Podcast Merchandise https://cbsyndromepodcast.com/merchandise Donate: https://ko-fi.com/cbsyndromepodcast

Who has been a guest on The Charles Bonnet Syndrome Podcast

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

• Dr Marta Wnuczko
• Shannon Glasgow
• Eva Potts
• Scott Muirden
• Duchess Antoinette McDonald-Ellis

Reach and audience

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

YouTube views

4,678

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100

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

Quality

68

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

71

Contact The Charles Bonnet Syndrome Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

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