Taking the Lead: Recent Episodes
Leader Dogs for the Blind
Leader Dogs for the Blind empowers people who are blind or visually impaired with the tools for safe and independent daily travel. Our goal is to educate, advocate, and share real life experiences of those with blindness. Come learn, laugh, and grow with us.
On this episode we talk with Ophthalmologist Dr. Matt Trese about what happens when someone is diagnosed legally blind. He also shares technology advances in the blindness and low vision field.
Welcome back to season 5! On our first episode we talk with Leader Dog client Justin Sutton. Justin shares how his journey to becoming a para-cyclist with his Leader Dog by his side.
We are taking you back to some of our favorite episodes before season 5 airs. On this episode we talk with client Leatrice Fullerton who is an advocate in the blindness and disability community. She shares her experience with Leader Dog but also being in advocacy and her work with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within many organizations and communities.
We are taking you back to one of our favorite episodes before airing season 5. In this episode, we talk about what it’s like as a parent whose children are going through vision loss.
We are taking you back to one of our favorite episodes where host Timothy Cuneio and Leader Dog client Shannon Columb have an honest and open conversation about what it's like losing vision throughout your life.
We are taking you back to our first episode as we take some time to prepare for season 5. Timothy shares about his experience with hiding blind.
In this short episode we go over all of the free programs Leader Dogs for the Blind has to offer.
On this episode we talk with client and veteran Clif who talks about his journey with blindness and receiving a guide dog via home delivery.
On this shorter episode of the Taking the Lead podcast we talk about the Thanksgiving holiday, what we are thankful for and Timothy touches on navigating holiday festivities with his Leader Dog Glacier.
On this episode we talk with Dr. Smith, Director of Veterinary Services at Leader Dogs for the Blind. He shares with us the work he and his team do to care for and support our dogs both on campus and off.
On this episode we talk with Leader Dog client Mark Harris about his journey having multiple Leader Dogs and how his perspective has changed throughout his journey with blindness.
On this episode we talk with two team members who are in the apprenticeship program to become guide dog mobility instructors (GDMI's).
In this episode we talk with Monica and Maya, a mother-daughter duo who are both a part of the Leader Dog family as a puppy raiser and client.
In this episode we talk to Raven who is a member of the breeding and puppy care team and fellow podcaster! She is a guide dog handler herself and shares her experience and expertise within the blindness community.
On this episode of the Taking the Lead podcast we talk with two team members of the Leader Dog team who work with clients who are DeafBlind and provide individualized instruction to meet clients specific needs.
On this episode we talk with Peter Tucic with HumanWare on his journey with blindness and how he's been a long-time partner with Leader Dogs for the Blind.
On this episode we talk with Arabella Jones, a new Leader Dog graduate who works as an ophthalmology assistant. We talk with her about her journey with blindness and helping others with visual impairments.
On this episode we talk with client Leatrice Fullerton who is an advocate in the blindness and disability community. She shares her experience with Leader Dog but also being in advocacy and her work with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within many organizations and communities.
In this episode, we talk with podcast host Timothy Cuneio’s wife on how they navigated their relationship with Timothy’s journey of losing his vision.
On this episode host Timothy Cuneio is with Christina Hepner and Leslie Hoskins in-person recording for the first time! He talks about his visit back to the Leader Dog campus after 3 years.
On this short episode we talk with host Timothy about finding a dog sitter for your guide dog when you can't take the dog on vacation.
In this episode we talk with Melissa Priester, Manager of Client Services, about the application process and what her team does for clients.
On this episode of Taking the Lead we talk with client Ellen Harper who is newer to the Leader Dog family but has still managed to participate in numerous Leader Dog programs. She talks about what it’s like transitioning from college into the workforce and disclosing having a disability.
On this episode we talk with Jeff Stein, Manager of Canine Care, about how our future Leader Dogs are cared for in the canine center while they are in guide dog training.
In this episode we talk with client Rita Harris who has been a speaker for Leader Dog, is a Lion, a nonprofit leader of her own and has attended Leader Dog for both Orientation and Mobility and Guide Dog Training.
We talk with Melissa Pletcher, Manager of Volunteer Engagement at Leader Dogs for the Blind about the many volunteer opportunities.
To kick off Season 3 we talk with Leader Dog client Jill Hinton Wolfe. She recently received her Leader Dog Hannah and is a U.S. Army Veteran who currently serves as Grand Valley State University’s first Military and Veteran Resource Manager.
On this short episode of the Taking the Lead podcast we talk about different types accessible technology.
In this episode with talk with Chief Philanthropy Officer for Leader Dogs for the Blind Melissa Weisse on her journey with Leader Dog and what philanthropy means to our organization.
In this episode of the Taking the Lead podcast we talk with client Ashley Eisenmenger on how the guide dog process doesn't always work for everyone.
On this week’s episode we learn about the team members who are constantly traveling and are our feet on the streets, our field representatives. We talk with Jill Vani who is a guide dog mobility instructor as well as the supervisor of our field representative team about what they do.
On today’s episode we are going to talk about some difficult topics such as what happens when a guide dog gets too old to work and goes into retirement, or what happens when a dog passes away or how to prepare for a replacement dog. Joining us to discuss this is Laurie Craig, a Leader Dog graduate herself, but also as a licensed psychologist with over 34 years of experience.
In this episode, we talk about what it’s like as a parent whose children are going through vision loss.
In this episode we talk with Erica Ihrke, Extended Services Manager about what Orientation and Mobility training is as Leader Dog celebrates 20 years of provide orientation and mobility.
On this episode of the Taking the Lead podcast we talk with Beth Slade, Director of Lions Engagement at Leader Dog, about what Lions mean to our mission.
In this episode host Timothy Cuneio and Leader Dog client Shannon Columb have an honest and open conversation about what it's like losing vision throughout your life.
In this episode we talk with Leader Dog client Shannon Columb about her journey with blindness and coming to Leader Dog.
Kicking off in season two we plan to dive even more into the world of blindness and the stories of our amazing clients, team members, volunteers, and donors. Of course, there is no better way to start off season two than with our fearless leader, President and CEO Susan Daniels.
In this episode we talk about what it's like navigating an intersection for someone who is blind or visually impaired.
On this short episode of Taking the Lead we talk about how someone who is blind or visually impaired picks up after their guide dog.
In this short episode of Taking the Lead we address questions we've received about traveling in different environments.
On this episode we talk with Drew Harness on the importance of Orientation and Mobility (white cane) training and how these skills change throughout a person's life.
On this episode we talk with siblings Kayla and Zach Penzone. They are both Leader Dog clients who have retinitis pigmentosa and share their individual journeys.
On this episode of Taking the Lead we meet Leader Dog Client Brett Bowman. He was paired with our 20,000 Leader Dog Legacy.
In this episode of Taking the Lead we learn about what happens in formal training. We talk with Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Eric Rodman about training and matching clients with their guide dogs. Learn more about getting a guide dog from Leader Dog here: https://www.leaderdog.org/programs/guide-dog-program/
In this episode of Taking the Lead we meet Leader Dog Client Sara Claudia. She is a founder of Sara Claudia Ministries which encourages others to “Walk by faith, not by sight.” She’s an author of two books and has a podcast of her own. Sara Claudia shares her experience of going blind as a young adult.
In this episode of Taking the Lead we learn about what puppy raising for Leader Dog is. Puppy Raiser Angie Wolney joins us to talk about why she volunteers and shares stories from being a raiser. Learn more about being a puppy raiser here: https://www.leaderdog.org/volunteer/raise-a-puppy/
In this episode, we start to talk about the journey of a Leader Dog. We start with our breeding department where Dana Hunter, Breeding Manager at Leader Dog, talks about why we breed and the role volunteers play. At the beginning of this episode we talk about our upcoming virtual event Dinner in the Dark! Find out more about it here: https://www.leaderdog.org/dinner-in-the-dark/
In this episode we talk about the myths and misconceptions of people in the blind community.
Meet part of the Leader Dog family. As we begin to dive into blindness and the life lessons that come along with it.
Leader Dogs for the Blind presents Taking the Lead. A podcast where we will take a deep dive into the blindness community. Our goal is to bring awareness of not only the blindness community but the free services we provide to those who are blind or visually impaired. Join us on this journey as we learn, laugh, and make a difference in people's lives.