Blindsight explores life through a different lens—sharing real conversations at the intersection of blindness, mental health, relationships, and personal growth. Hosted by Bill Lundgren, each episode spotlights lived experience, hard-won resilience, and the moments people don’t always know how to talk about out loud. From navigating family dynamics and identity to battling anxiety, depression, or addiction—and finding traction again—Blindsight makes space for honesty, hope, and practical perspective. With compelling guests and real-life stories, it’s a podcast for anyone who wants to understand more deeply, feel less alone, and keep moving forward—one brave conversation at a time.
This service is made possible by generous donations. Consider supporting us at www.aftersight.org
to help keep these resources free. Aftersight also provides free white canes, support groups, and more, all thanks to contributions from our community.
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Blindsight explores life through a different lens—sharing real conversations at the intersection of blindness, mental health, relationships, and personal growth. Hosted by Bill Lundgren, each episode spotlights lived experience, hard-won resilience, and the moments people don’t always know how to talk about out loud. From navigating family dynamics and identity to battling anxiety, depression, or addiction—and finding traction again—Blindsight makes space for honesty, hope, and practical perspective. With compelling guests and real-life stories, it’s a podcast for anyone who wants to understand more deeply, feel less alone, and keep moving forward—one brave conversation at a time.
This service is made possible by generous donations. Consider supporting us at www.aftersight.org
to help keep these resources free. Aftersight also provides free white canes, support groups, and more, all thanks to contributions from our community.
Fireworks in Your Eyeballs (Some Assembly Required)
Blindsight
57 minutes
3 months ago
Fireworks in Your Eyeballs (Some Assembly Required)
Bill Lundgren interviews Lily Turkstra, a PhD researcher at UC Santa Barbara, on the realities of visual prostheses. They unpack who qualifies, what “seeing” with phosphenes is like, how training works, and why expectation-setting and mental health support are critical. Takeaways: current implants provide rudimentary perception, not natural vision; outcomes vary; support systems and rehab matter; independence gains are possible but individualized; clinicians and families must align on expectations.
Contact Info
Guest resources: bionic-vision.org (lab hub), bionicvision.org (lab site)
Aftersight: (720) 712-8856 • feedback@aftersight.org
• aftersight.org
Producer: Jonathan Price • jonathan@aftersight.org
Show Credits
Host: Bill Lundgren
Guest: Lily, PhD researcher, UCSB (Bionic Vision)
Producer: Jonathan Price
Editor/Mix: Aftersight Audio Team
A production of Aftersight
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Why prosthetics in blindness matters
01:10 — Guest intro: Lily’s path to bionic vision
02:22 — From auditory perception to NASA to face blindness
03:40 — Who qualifies for visual implants
05:05 — Argus II and early devices
07:06 — What users actually “see”: phosphenes
08:20 — Learning a new visual language
09:30 — Daily-life integration vs lab outcomes
10:45 — Setting expectations for users and families
12:05 — Trade-offs: adaptation vs frustration
14:10 — What recognition is possible today
15:30 — Rehab and training workflows
16:37 — Practical home practice examples
18:10 — Community, altruism, and trial motivation
19:45 — Device limits vs “personal failure”
21:23 — External pressure and mental health
22:40 — “Change your life” claims, defined
23:51 — Independence as the real metric
25:10 — Measuring success outside the lab
27:10 — Family dynamics and letting go
30:01 — Finding peers and support
32:18 — Access barriers and consistency of care
34:25 — Integrating the device back into life
36:30 — Therapy and anxiety considerations
38:48 — Pre-implant psychological screening
41:18 — Whole-person fit and timing
43:40 — Research vs user expectations gap
46:01 — Co-design with users
48:23 — Why structured support groups would help
49:01 — Where to find trials and teams
51:28 — Resource sharing for the public
53:51 — Summary: useful, not universal; mindset matters
56:18 — Closing and resources recap
Blindsight
Blindsight explores life through a different lens—sharing real conversations at the intersection of blindness, mental health, relationships, and personal growth. Hosted by Bill Lundgren, each episode spotlights lived experience, hard-won resilience, and the moments people don’t always know how to talk about out loud. From navigating family dynamics and identity to battling anxiety, depression, or addiction—and finding traction again—Blindsight makes space for honesty, hope, and practical perspective. With compelling guests and real-life stories, it’s a podcast for anyone who wants to understand more deeply, feel less alone, and keep moving forward—one brave conversation at a time.
This service is made possible by generous donations. Consider supporting us at www.aftersight.org
to help keep these resources free. Aftersight also provides free white canes, support groups, and more, all thanks to contributions from our community.
