Blind and Refined
A routine physical for 28 year old John Powers led to an eye specialist informing John that half his sight was gone. He had no idea. A degenerative eye disease (choroideremia) would eventually lead to blindness. 30 years later, John recounts what helped and hindered him on his “challenging and messy” journey of sight loss.
This is a candid narrative in which denial and resistance eventually gave way to acceptance and the assistance of a supportive community and the riches of his Christian faith.
“I think there are others out there who get a life changing diagnosis, and all of a sudden, they have to find a new way forward.”
Episodes
7 episodes
Episode 7 - Getting Lost to Find My Way
In this final episode of Blind and Refined Season 1, John recounts lessons from his blindness training in Des Moines—where getting lost, quite literally, became a path to finding confidence and independence. Reflecting on how discomfor...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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10:57
Episode 6 - Tapping in to the Divine
John reflects on the spiritual side of living with disability, likening it to tapping into a hidden artesian well that brings life and strength. He weaves together research on the benefits of spirituality, his own story of grief after the loss ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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8:39
Episode 5 - The White Cane Moment: From Shame to the First Step
John tells the pivotal story of a clinic visit and a blunt, compassionate exchange that exposed his embarrassment about losing sight and pushed him toward acceptance — including the humbling but clarifying “confrontational” vision test and the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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8:00
Episode 4 - Refined by Loss: Facing the Grief We’d Rather Avoid
John challenges the myth of positivity in the face of suffering and the danger of avoiding grief. He explores how unacknowledged pain can fester—and how facing grief head-on can lead to real healing. The episode prepares listeners for an even d...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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5:18
Episode 3 - Help I Didn’t Want, but Desperately Needed
In this episode, John unpacks the resistance many of us feel to asking for help—even when we need it most. He shares candid stories of pride, frustration, and a pivotal moment when his wife challenged him to take ownership of his condition. It’...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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6:03
Episode 2 - Roots of Resilience: Breaking Isolation with Connection
John dives into the emotional aftermath of receiving a diagnosis of progressive blindness. He reflects on the pull toward isolation and how critical it is to build community and share vulnerably. Through a powerful story of emotional breakdown ...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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9:14