Episode Summary

In this monthly Blind Level Tech roundup, Evan Starnes brings a fast-moving mix of mainstream and assistive tech news, opening with a reminder that Aftersight’s Tech Pulse audio edition lets listeners hear original tech articles from sources like Top Tech Tidbits, Wired, and CNET. From there, the episode moves through Amazon’s new Alexa personality options, Apple’s push into business and education, Spotify’s new Song DNA feature, Windows 11 changes, and a reported FCC router sales ban. The second half shifts into assistive tech, highlighting Speakable’s public voice-label system, a new BMIOS and Meta partnership, and an extended breakdown of the BrailleSense 7 and its new features.

This episode works well as a broad accessibility-and-innovation update. It gives listeners both consumer-facing tech developments and blind-specific tools in one place, while keeping the tone conversational, practical, and rooted in how these changes may actually affect everyday users.

Contact Info

Guest/Organization Info:
No guest featured in this episode. Host-led tech news roundup.

Aftersight Contact Info:
Aftersight
Email: feedback@aftersight.org
Phone: (720) 712-8856
Website: Aftersight.org

Show Credits

Host: Evan Starnes
Producer: Jonathan Price
Organization: Aftersight

• (00:00) - — Welcome to Blind Level Tech / Tech Pulse spotlight
• (02:26) - — Amazon adds Alexa personality styles
• (04:51) - — Listener feedback and Alexa reactions
• (05:16) - — Apple’s business and education push
• (09:29) - — Apple Maps ads and AirPods Max 2
• (11:52) - — Spotify Song DNA and Windows 11 updates
• (13:51) - — Reported FCC router sales ban
• (15:21) - — Speakable voice labels for accessible spaces
• (16:36) - — BMIOS and Meta partnership
• (17:10) - — BrailleSense 7 first impressions and upgrades
• (20:37) - — Taptic feedback and optional QWERTY keyboard
• (23:00) - — Closing and contact reminder

Episode Summary

In this personal three-year reflection, Evan Starnes steps away from the usual tech-heavy format to look back on the journey of Blind Level Tech since its launch in March 2023. He shares how his time at the Colorado Center for the Blind and his early internship at Aftersight helped shape his confidence, skills, and voice as both an audio producer and host.

Evan walks listeners through the evolution of Aftersight’s podcasting world, from the early days of Community Conversations to the creation of Blind Level Tech alongside producer Jonathan Price. He reflects on the guests, co-hosts, spin-off ideas, and creative risks that helped BLT find its identity as a show that makes technology approachable for both lifelong blind listeners and those newer to vision loss.

The episode also opens up a more vulnerable side of the work behind the mic. Evan speaks candidly about the pressure of trying to represent the blind and low-vision community well, the perfectionism that can come with creativity, and the personal struggles that have shaped the show’s highs and lows. It is an honest, human check-in on what it takes to keep building something meaningful week after week.

Looking ahead, Evan shares his hopes for the future of Blind Level Tech, including more demos, more guests, Throwback Thursdays, continued BLT Bites, and a stronger creative rhythm after Aftersight’s current platform transition. Through it all, his goal remains the same: to make BLT a welcoming, informative, and distinctly human space for the blind and low-vision community.

Contact Info

Organization: Aftersight
Website: Aftersight.org
Feedback Email: feedback@aftersight.org
Listener Voicemail: (720) 712-8856

Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast Producer, Aftersight

Show Credits

Show: Blind Level Tech
Host: Evan Starnes
Producer: Jonathan Price
Network: Aftersight Originals

• (00:02) - — Evan marks three years of Blind Level Tech
• (02:47) - — Life before BLT and training at the Colorado Center for the Blind
• (04:51) - — Evan’s Aftersight internship and the early podcasting days
• (07:18) - — Community Conversations, Penn Street, and Aftersight’s podcast growth
• (09:35) - — Jonathan Price joins Aftersight and BLT is born
• (11:59) - — The inspiration behind the show and building its sound
• (16:58) - — The vision for BLT: making tech approachable for everyone
• (19:23) - — Memorable guests, co-hosts, and lessons from hosting
• (24:17) - — Personal pressure, perfectionism, and the human side of podcasting
• (26:14) - — What’s next for BLT: more demos, more guests, more growth
• (31:03) - — Closing thanks and an invitation for listener feedback

1) Episode Summary

Evan Starnes opens this shorter solo episode with a quick update on Aftersight’s major platform transition and shares his excitement about getting back to creating more original content for Blind Level Tech. He introduces a new upcoming Thursday mini-series focused on vintage and retro assistive and consumer technology, giving listeners a fun “trip down memory lane” format that will be more relaxed and demo-driven.

The main focus of the episode is a broad overview of the latest Apple product releases and what matters most for blind and low-vision users. Evan walks through the newly announced products, highlights accessibility-relevant features, and frames the conversation around practical use rather than deep technical specs. He discusses the value of these devices for students, everyday users, and those looking to upgrade from older Apple hardware.

He also gives his take on the new iPhone and Mac lineup from the perspective of real-world accessibility, including MagSafe, storage, performance, camera practicality, and how useful certain “Pro” features may or may not be for blind users. The episode closes with an invitation for listener feedback and a reminder that more tech-focused content is on the way as the transition work settles down.

2) Contact Info

Aftersight Contact Info
Aftersight
Email: feedback@aftersight.org
Phone: (720) 712-8856
Website: Aftersight.org

Producer Credit
Produced by Jonathan Price

3) Show Credits

Show: Blind Level Tech
Host: Evan Starnes
Producer: Jonathan Price
Organization: Aftersight

4) Chapter Markers

00:03 — Evan opens with a quick show update
00:32 — Aftersight’s platform transition and what’s ahead
01:10 — Introducing Throwback Thursdays
02:25 — Why retro tech content fits Blind Level Tech
02:57 — Shift to Apple’s newly released products
04:40 — Wireless improvements and the new connectivity chip
05:22 — MacBook Neo overview
09:25 — New MacBook Air and MacBook Pro updates
11:47 — iPad Air gets a mention
12:08 — iPhone 17e overview and accessibility relevance
15:40 — Final thoughts and listener feedback invitation

• (00:00) - Tempo: 120.0