Obsessing Over Accessibility, Accents & Anastasia Pagonis

Put on your micro shorts because Emily and Kyle are back and already planning what they’re wearing to the market this weekend. Then Emily reveals her latest hack for choosing restaurants and Kyle shares his favorite daily word games (and no, they're not Connections).

Later, 2x Paralympian and world record holder Anastasia Pagonis stops by the WOWY offices and reminds everyone why she’s such a badass. She breaks down what it’s like to ski down a mountain while visually impaired, how she shops at Sephora, what it’s like to be paired with a guide dog, and what led her to launch her own haircare line.

Plus, her ~GLOSSY~ obsession and a rapid-fire round of Obsessed or Over It.

00:00 – Welcome to WOWY
03:21 – Emily’s Obsession
07:41 – Kyle’s Obsession
13:58 – Anastasia's Interview
28:53 – Anastasia's Obsession
36:44 – Obsessed or Over It

New show, new obsessions, every Wednesday.

Hosts: Emily Hymes and Kyle O'Donnell
Guest: Anastasia Pagonis
Executive Producer: Julia Aubuchon
Producers: Drew Downing and Ben Gottlieb
Graphic Designer: Maddie Jones
Original Music: Reuben Alexander
For RaffHouse Productions: Haleigh Raff and Glenn Raff

Keep in touch:
Instagram » http://bit.ly/4p5Dsxm
TikTok » https://bit.ly/47YvkbR
Email » wereobsessedwithyou@gmail.com

This Week's Obsessions:
Emily: ChatGPT sourced locations inspired by books
Kyle: Ponder Club's Common 3 / Minute Cryptic
Anastasia: e.l.f. Cosmetics Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

We're Emily and Kyle. We started as coworkers in late night television and now we're best friends exploring NYC and our FYPs.

SPEAKER_06 0:07

This is an interview show about obsessions. Ours, theirs, and maybe yours too. Welcome to We're Obsessed With You. Hey Emily.

SPEAKER_03 0:19

Hi Kyle.

SPEAKER_06 0:20

Welcome to We're Obsessed With You.

SPEAKER_03 0:21

I'm Emily Himes.

SPEAKER_06 0:23

I'm Kyle O'Donnell, and this is our show where we talk to the people we're obsessed with. About the things.

SPEAKER_03 0:27

Their obsessed with. Yes.

SPEAKER_06 0:30

Welcome.

SPEAKER_03 0:31

Emily, what's up? Um, not much. I said that last week, but really not much.

SPEAKER_06 0:38

Love that. It's spring in New York.

SPEAKER_03 0:40

I feel string in New York, and the pollen is pollening.

SPEAKER_06 0:43

I just feel like I'm finally thawing out, and I'm like, it's so much better.

SPEAKER_03 0:48

No, it's not.

SPEAKER_06 0:49

Why?

SPEAKER_03 0:49

The pollen.

SPEAKER_06 0:50

Oh, but don't you love not going out in a giant coat?

SPEAKER_03 0:53

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 0:54

It's really nice.

SPEAKER_03 0:55

I don't like transitional seasons though. Like I hate fall or summer into fall, and then I do hate winter into spring because it's like, what do we wear? What's going on?

SPEAKER_06 1:05

See, I hate summer and I love fall. So the second I can start wearing a sweatshirt and shorts, it's like heavy honor to me. Right. That's it.

SPEAKER_03 1:14

I think anyone, because we've talked about this, when it is a little chilly out and it is the fall, wearing a sweatshirt, wearing long sleeves and shorts versus wearing long pants and a short sleeved shirt. That the latter feels diabolical to me. Psycho. Psycho. Who does that?

SPEAKER_06 1:30

I actually don't understand. Your core has to be warm.

SPEAKER_03 1:33

I completely agree. Even if it's a vest.

SPEAKER_06 1:35

It's such a Massachusetts thing to be wearing a hoodie and a short in the middle of winter. Like it will be January, and I'll be wearing a short and a sweatshirt.

SPEAKER_03 1:44

A lot of people have caught you on the street in your short shorts in the middle of winter. Outside Smith Street, just in the skimpiest shorts and a sweatshirt. Where do you get your shorts?

SPEAKER_06 1:55

Oh, my skimpy shorts, they're usually outdoor voices, makes a good skimpy short.

SPEAKER_03 2:01

Even with the new rebrand?

SPEAKER_06 2:03

No, these are like sample sale from like six years ago.

SPEAKER_03 2:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 2:07

Who else? I like a um champion mesh skimpy short. Heaven on earth. Yeah. I love those.

SPEAKER_03 2:14

That's cool. I want to get a pair.

SPEAKER_06 2:16

We'll buy them. Yeah, I'm gonna get them for the summer for the market. I have a pair from um Clemson University when I went, and they're my favorite shorts.

SPEAKER_03 2:24

Oh, I'm actually pissed I didn't ask you to get me some while you're there.

SPEAKER_06 2:28

Maybe I'll buy some for you because they also have pockets. Fabulous. Many skimpy shorts don't have pockets.

SPEAKER_03 2:34

There are a lot of, I look for the shorts like this a lot, and I'm like, oh, this is perfect to go to the market in. I think about what I'm gonna wear to the market, and when I tell you I never wear those outfits to the market.

SPEAKER_06 2:43

Oh, I do.

SPEAKER_03 2:44

Yeah, I want to.

SPEAKER_06 2:45

I want to stunt on people at the market.

SPEAKER_03 2:47

The market is like, I can be crazy at the market. Yes. And like, who cares? Right. That feels like one of the places it's like, let's be fun.

SPEAKER_06 2:54

Yeah. Yeah. You can that just like makes the trick.

SPEAKER_03 2:57

Because it's like, it's like an hour of your time. You're barely at the market. You're at the market for like one second. You're like, I'm being someone else.

SPEAKER_06 3:02

And also, don't you feel like a fashion model when you're walking down the aisle and like someone else is coming down the aisle as well? Like you're just like, oh, I'm on parade, you're on parade.

SPEAKER_03 3:10

Yes, yeah. I'm I don't feel that as much, but when I'm in a hot outfit, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 3:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 3:15

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 3:16

You guys romanticize your life and get dressed for the market.

SPEAKER_03 3:18

Yeah, go to the market, the fork read market every Saturday.

SPEAKER_06 3:21

Yes. Emily, what are you obsessed with this week?

SPEAKER_03 3:24

I am obsessed with, oh, I'm obsessed with like something that everyone can do. It costs no money except once you actually plug it into the um chat GPT.

SPEAKER_05 3:32

Great.

SPEAKER_03 3:33

Um, my friend Andrew, he's a big reader, and he's been doing this thing where he will plug into Chat GPT. I just finished this book and this book, and I really liked it. What where should I go in New York City that would make me like give me these vibes?

SPEAKER_05 3:52

Maps vibes. Yeah. Oh my god, I love this.

SPEAKER_03 3:54

So I think that is so fun. And you can do it with anything, I suppose, but I think we should stick to like books. Okay. So I'm opening my laptop.

SPEAKER_06 4:01

Oh my God. This is a multimedia presentation today.

SPEAKER_03 4:04

So the two books that I just read.

SPEAKER_06 4:06

What? What if I just got a crazy email? Fired!

SPEAKER_03 4:13

So I want you to do it too. I just read Strangers, a memoir of a marriage by Belle Burden.

SPEAKER_04 4:19

We know.

SPEAKER_03 4:20

Well, yeah. I also plugged in marriage at sea. Don't worry, everybody. I'm still talking about that. 117 days later.

SPEAKER_06 4:30

If you don't know, this podcast feels like a marriage at sea sometimes.

SPEAKER_03 4:35

And you know what? We're staying afloat. We are.

SPEAKER_06 4:38

We have our two forks, we have our two cups.

SPEAKER_03 4:40

Yeah, and we're like, we have our own jobs. It's actually perfect. Oh my God. So I plugged in Strangers, a memoir of Bell Burden.

SPEAKER_05 4:47

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 4:47

And it said, um Wait, what was the prompt? I said, if I just read Marriage at Sea and The Stranger by Bell Burden, where should I go to eat New York City?

SPEAKER_06 4:58

Okay, great.

SPEAKER_03 4:59

So if you just finished Strangers, a memoir of marriage by Bell Burden, which I know a lot of people are watching, so they might be very intrigued by this, you should visit New York City spots that reflect her world of suffocatingly good taste. Oh, yeah. Her Vanderbilt Pally heritage and the coastal high society lifestyle she describes.

SPEAKER_06 5:16

Okay, no offense to every time you've talked about that book. This chat G description made me want to read the book more.

SPEAKER_03 5:23

Wow, Kyle. I just like your float's going down.

SPEAKER_06 5:27

Well, you're on it too. I just did not know that's really what it's about.

SPEAKER_03 5:31

Well, it's about her divorce.

SPEAKER_06 5:33

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_03 5:34

But she's in high society.

SPEAKER_06 5:35

I don't think I realized that.

SPEAKER_03 5:36

The one thing that I thought was so interesting, so there are Martha's Vineyard people, and when they get divorced, she finds out, or we're the process of getting divorced, she finds out that they are country club in Martha's Vineyard. When someone gets divorced, you have to choose you have to choose which partner stays. So that like becomes a big thing. Like, because the the country clubs, like, we don't want both of them here. That's drama. So then they have to decide, I don't know, like through their divorce, like who gets the club.

SPEAKER_05 6:03

That's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 6:04

Okay, so Grand Central Oyster Bar.

SPEAKER_05 6:06

Fun.

SPEAKER_03 6:07

These are Upper East Side Midtown, the Heritage. Um, La Grand Boucherie, Tribeca Downtown, Holy Water, The Mermaid Inn, Good Taste Via Corota, If One by Land, Two by Sea. And I think that's starting to lead me into marriage at sea.

SPEAKER_06 6:23

I'm gonna love it. I'm gonna do this. Yeah, and I will do, I've talked about the book of Luke on the podcast, so I'm not going to do that. But I'm going to my other favorite book of re of late, Foster Date Explorers the Cosmos.

SPEAKER_03 6:34

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 6:35

Recommend a restaurant.

SPEAKER_03 6:37

Yes, in New York City.

SPEAKER_06 6:39

That matches that vibe.

SPEAKER_03 6:41

I think this is really good for book clubs.

SPEAKER_06 6:43

I think this is a great idea. Also, it's like an ethical use of ChatGPT.

SPEAKER_03 6:47

Yes, I feel like this is okay. And I think you could also probably plug in a bunch of things and be like, these are my vibe these days.

SPEAKER_06 6:52

Okay, I'm just gonna say they are getting ChatGPT is getting paid by the Waverly Inn. Because I also got recommended the Waverly Inn. It's such a specific, delicious vibe, elite Northeast Prep School, quiet yearning, intellectual insecurity, privilege with a hollow center. Sounds like us. And a kind of moody, hyper-aware loneliness. Really sounds like us. A little waspy, slightly haunted by own self-serious, but beautiful. Waverly Inn. This is the foster aid restaurant. Intellectual but performative, Cafe Sabarski. Do you know where that is?

SPEAKER_03 7:19

No, but like let's try it.

SPEAKER_06 7:21

Yeah. Tommy Jazz, Tomy Jazz, Melancholy and Slur, Slightly Hidden, Bakery, Elite. Teresi.

SPEAKER_03 7:29

Okay. All right. Okay.

SPEAKER_06 7:31

We know a way in. Yep. But it said Waverly Inn. And also puts them on a map. Oh, this is so fun.

SPEAKER_03 7:36

Yeah, I think it's really fun.

SPEAKER_06 7:37

I love this. I'm obsessed with this too. Yeah. But now I'm going to do this like movies and things.

SPEAKER_03 7:41

Oh, that's a good idea. Yeah, you can do it with so much stuff, I guess. Kyle, what's your obsession this week?

SPEAKER_06 7:46

So, for those of you that don't know, I'm a bit of a cruciverbalist.

SPEAKER_03 7:50

What's that?

SPEAKER_06 7:51

It is one who enjoys crossword puzzles. Cruza, coming from a Latin. Cross.

SPEAKER_03 7:56

I was thinking crucifix. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 7:57

Verbalist word.

SPEAKER_03 7:59

Duh. Laura, Laura would have known that. Is she a big Yes, shows every day. I didn't know that.

SPEAKER_06 8:04

Yeah. Um, so I love obviously all the New York Times games. I love Connections. I love the crossword.

SPEAKER_03 8:10

Don't tell me you're doing the new LinkedIn one.

SPEAKER_06 8:12

What is the new LinkedIn one?

SPEAKER_03 8:14

There's the LinkedIn game that everyone's been playing.

SPEAKER_06 8:16

My cultural blindstone is that I don't know what LinkedIn is. I still think my LinkedIn says I'm a page at NBC.

SPEAKER_03 8:23

That's probably why you haven't gotten any requests.

SPEAKER_06 8:26

Yeah, probably. Um, I don't even know if someone could request me on LinkedIn. But, anyways, so I am obsessed with these two other games. One is from this website called Ponder Club.

SPEAKER_04 8:37

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 8:38

And they do a game that's called Connect Three. And it's three Venn diagrams. So one, two, three. Okay. And they give you one, two, three, four, five, six, seven words, maybe. And you have to figure out how they're all connected. So there's it's like it's three Venn. This is where the pre-suberbalist.

SPEAKER_03 8:58

Super obsessed. Okay, wait, keep going. I just I'm having a hard time seeing it.

SPEAKER_06 9:02

It's just you have to, yeah, pull it off on your own. We have our computers today.

SPEAKER_03 9:06

This is like fun day.

SPEAKER_06 9:07

So you have these three diagrams.

SPEAKER_03 9:10

It's like a Venn diagram. Did you say that?

SPEAKER_06 9:12

I did say Venn diagrams. So then you have to put these in. So the words they give you are Sphinx, Anabus, Pyramid, Griffin, Obelisk, Dragon, slot machine.

SPEAKER_03 9:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 9:22

So you have to figure out how they're all connected. One word will connect all three trends. It's very fun. I love this. I do love what it plays. I don't know. But dragon, griffin, they're all um fictional creatures. So that's connects one.

SPEAKER_03 9:38

Yeah. It is giving like connections like exactly.

SPEAKER_06 9:41

But then the one I'm really obvious is.

SPEAKER_03 9:43

Is this the one that I'm also obsessed with that you told me about the colored one?

SPEAKER_06 9:46

No, but I love that. Yeah, that one's really fun. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That is a function. That's really fun.

SPEAKER_03 9:51

I can get into that. Yes.

SPEAKER_06 9:52

Yeah. So this is called a Maybe it doesn't involve words.

SPEAKER_03 9:56

Of course, that wouldn't be included today.

SPEAKER_06 9:58

This is a Minute Cryptic, which basically they are crossword clue. When you do the crossword and you know when you got a question mark one, it's usually a riddle or something. This is just those. So every week they give you a cryptic crossword clue. Or every day, I'm sorry, on Minute Cryptic. And you have to solve them.

SPEAKER_03 10:19

Okay, so what is it to give you?

SPEAKER_06 10:21

This one says learn 1970s dance music,$5 off per beginner. I already did this and I got it right.

SPEAKER_03 10:27

Did you know right away? I did. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_06 10:30

Because you have 1970s dance music, so that's disco.$5 off. Usually you see a number, it means you have a um Roman numeral. So that's V per beginner. You're taking the P off of it's just once you get it, they have lessons and everything, it makes sense. The answer was discover. Because you have disco, V, and you're taking off the first letter of per. And that's the word. But if you want to kind of stress, like stretch that muscle and kind of get into word games, you can follow Coffee and Crosswords on TikTok. Oh, that's fine. And she solves them every day in real time. So she'll tell you, she'll work through it. So how I got into them is that I would just watch these. Yeah. And I learned how, like, what does this what does it mean when you have a number? What does it mean when you like there's certain words that mean scramble the letters? It's going to be an anagram. The only way to do it, to learn it, is to do it.

SPEAKER_03 11:27

I wonder if you typed in, I'm obsessed with minute cryptic, where should I go eat?

SPEAKER_06 11:33

Oh.

SPEAKER_03 11:34

Should we just try?

SPEAKER_06 11:35

Are we out of time?

SPEAKER_03 11:36

I wonder if they'll send you to a place where you can like play it, like a coffee bar or something.

SPEAKER_06 11:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 11:41

Or if there's like a real vibe.

SPEAKER_06 11:43

I'm sure like Liz's book bar. They're gonna just like a wordy kind of thing. Um book club bar. Guys, I am Chat GPT. Get rid of this. Just pay me instead. Um, we want to thank everyone for the support. We love all of you.

SPEAKER_03 12:00

Almost all of you.

SPEAKER_06 12:02

We love all of you. Um, if you're listening to us, we are available on YouTube. So go over there to We're Obsessed With You.

SPEAKER_03 12:08

Yeah, we're both wearing red today.

SPEAKER_06 12:10

Yes, and we're so hot. And we are on Instagram and TikTok at We're Obsessed With You. Go check us out there. But how you can really support the show is through our Shop Mai. We, everything we talk about on this show are things that we're actually obsessed with. We are not getting paid to mention these things, if you can believe it.

SPEAKER_03 12:29

Yeah, but if you want to also be obsessed with them because we have such good taste, you should just go online through our ShopMai and buy everything.

SPEAKER_06 12:34

Yeah, we get like two cents per purchase. It just helps us continue to do this show. But the real way you can support us for free, thank you very much, is by subscribing and giving us five stars on the podcast app.

SPEAKER_03 12:48

And you should comment.

SPEAKER_06 12:49

Leave a comment. We'll start calling out comments. If you leave a good comment, we'll start calling them out. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 12:54

Tell us what you're doing. But you have to leave a good one.

SPEAKER_06 12:56

Tell us what you're obsessed with. Comment on our YouTube videos. Tell us what you're obsessed with.

SPEAKER_03 12:59

Tell us something funny.

SPEAKER_06 13:00

We want to build a community here. That's what we're all here for.

SPEAKER_03 13:03

I'm so excited for our guests. She's amazing, talented, accomplished, and she's a swimmer. Yes!

SPEAKER_06 13:09

We are interviewing this week Anastasia Anastasia Pagonis. She is a world record um holder in swimming, and she's a gold medal paralympic. And she has she's blind, and her Instagram and TikTok are all about um making things accessible and teaching people about flyingness and how the world around us really is not built for accessibility.

SPEAKER_04 13:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 13:36

Um, and what I'm really most excited, though, to talk to her about is like being a girl.

SPEAKER_03 13:41

Yeah, she is a girly girl. She's such a girly girl.

SPEAKER_06 13:44

She like leans into makeup, her hair, she's so fabulous. We're just excited to talk to her about her mission, but also like have some fun with her.

SPEAKER_03 13:51

Yeah, we're gonna have fun.

SPEAKER_06 13:52

We'll be right back. We are here with Anastasia Pagonis, a world record holding Paralympian and accessibility activist. Anastasia, we're obsessed with you. Welcome.

SPEAKER_02 14:09

Hi, I'm so excited to be here. I'm so obsessed with you guys. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_06 14:13

We've been chatting before rolling, and this is gonna be so fun.

SPEAKER_02 14:16

Yeah, I'm so excited.

SPEAKER_06 14:17

So excited.

SPEAKER_02 14:18

Thanks for having me. Of course.

SPEAKER_06 14:20

So we want to just talk a little bit about the Paralympics and the goals that you set. So you first off, I just want to say everyone go to Anastasia's Instagram. She has so many resources about blindness and accessibility and that it's a spectrum. And that is a resource we use a lot for our research. Yeah. And I think you use utilizing that platform to teach people is incredible.

SPEAKER_02 14:43

Thank you.

SPEAKER_06 14:44

But we don't want you to teach us, we just want to talk to you because we think you're so you guys go educate yourselves and then come back.

SPEAKER_02 14:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 14:51

Because this is just gonna be like a key. This is gonna be a great time. Um, you started swimming after you lost your sight, after you grew up as a soccer player, and then around 11, you started losing your sight and you got into swimming.

SPEAKER_01 15:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 15:05

When did the Paralympics become the goal?

SPEAKER_01 15:08

Yeah, so obviously, soccer player, ball, vision loss, not a good combination. It just, yeah, it doesn't work. So my doctor recommended I got into swimming and I I fell in love with it. And I never knew the Paralympics was even a thing until I started progressively losing more vision and actually was looking at swimmers that also had disabilities. And I was like, wait, like how are they getting these like gold medals and stuff? Like this is so cool. And I was like, oh my god, the Paralympics. And I remember going to my first meet and I got my ass kicked. It was amazing. Like, little me, I was like competing against these super cool people. And I was like, Yeah, I got to swim in the same pool at that. Got my ass kicked, but like it's totally fine. Um, and it was just like such a blast to be around people that were just like you. I grew up swimming on an able-bodied team. Um, so being able to compete against people who had the same abilities and disabilities as me was really nice.

SPEAKER_06 16:00

What was it like to go from a team sport to then like a solo one?

SPEAKER_01 16:05

Yeah, very interesting. Um, I mean, I was little when I was playing soccer, but honestly, my swimming is a team, it's a team process anyway. So when I swim, it's not just me. Um, I have two tappers on each side of the pool, which hit me with a little pole in a pool noodle so I know that the edge is coming up, so I don't like, you know, face planked into the walls. Um it's kind of is like a team sport. Uh, because if they mess up, it messes me up. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:32

Have you been working with them for a long time?

SPEAKER_01 16:33

Like, do you feel yeah, I have to have a lot of trust. I'm super duper picky and such a brat about like such a brat.

SPEAKER_06 16:42

You're a world record holder, I think you have the right to so picky about like who taps me.

SPEAKER_01 16:47

And it's super frustrating when you're like competing for the race of your life and someone else messes it up. They're like, oh, like that wasn't even me, that was them. And that's part of being in the Paralympics and having a disability. Right, right.

SPEAKER_06 17:00

What I love A about the Olympics and the Paralympics, but also your content is that you really celebrated all the Paralympians around you. Like you really, it's so inspiring just to have like to celebrate other people's wins.

SPEAKER_01 17:15

Yes, and that's what's so important. I mean, it's it's sad that there aren't people that do that, but it is so important. Every single Paralympian and Olympian is so inspiring and so amazing, and they deserve all of the attention that they could possibly get. And that's something about the Paralympics is it's a slow process. They are getting better, but we don't get the attention that we deserve. And they are trying to change that, but it still needs a lot of work. So why not use my platform to promote these amazing people?

SPEAKER_03 17:44

Absolutely. Yeah, it's amazing. What a like great community and the people that you've met. Yeah, it's so amazing.

SPEAKER_01 17:49

Everyone's so inspiring. The stories that come from these people. I mean, I'm involved in it and I get inspired every single day from these people.

SPEAKER_06 17:56

Who are some people that you think our listeners should be checking out?

SPEAKER_01 17:59

Yeah. Oh my goodness. So many. Okay, so Jessica Long, who is a Paralympic swimmer, she is missing both of her legs. She has more medals than Michael Phelps.

SPEAKER_04 18:09

Oh my god. Yes, man.

SPEAKER_01 18:12

Like, how crazy. So cool. Brenna Huckabee is a snowboarder, and she actually did a class action lawsuit with the Paralympics because they took away her classification. So now she competes against people who are more disabled. Uh, sorry, she's more disabled than the people she competes against. Oh, wow. And she still wins.

SPEAKER_05 18:30

Oh.

SPEAKER_01 18:31

Period, Brenna. Period, Brenna. Goats are goats for a reason. Yes, for real.

SPEAKER_06 18:37

Well, speaking of snowboarding, you're also a skier.

SPEAKER_02 18:40

Yeah. Well, getting into skiing, yes.

SPEAKER_06 18:43

How this is a dumb question, but how does one with visual impairment ski? Like, what is that process of?

SPEAKER_01 18:50

Um, I just pray for the best and fly down the obvious ski. God for now. Yeah. So, like, here's the mountain, just send a girl. Like, no. So there's a lot more that happens behind the scenes. I have a headset that's connected to my helmet and connected to my guide's helmet. And I have full trust in my guide. They tell me right, left, someone's in front of me, slow down faster. It's this steep here. And the dopamine and adrenaline rush that I get when I'm like going down the mountain and I'm literally like, I feel a pit in my stomach. I'm like, oh, this is so scary. And then I get to the bottom, I'm like, yes, let's do it again.

SPEAKER_04 19:25

Oh my God.

SPEAKER_01 19:26

It's so scary. And honestly, in one of my opinions, like, I think downhill alpine skiing for blind people is like the scariest, most dangerous Paralympic sport because these people are completely blindfolded, going 70 miles an hour downhill.

SPEAKER_03 19:41

I can barely go down a bunny hill.

SPEAKER_01 19:43

Like that's so scary, and they do it. And that's why we're pretty cool.

SPEAKER_06 19:48

Absolutely. And the speed of it all, like I am going like I'm going full edge to edge, just like basically horizontal.

SPEAKER_01 19:55

Yeah, pizza never works. I know. Pizza will always do you dirty. No, the first time I got on skis, um, which was actually this season, um, oh my goodness, I decided to just free-for all this. And my God bless my poor boyfriend. Um, no ski lessons, nothing. I'm like, we're renting skis and I'm learning how to do this because I had a feature with NBC that I was gonna like had to learn how to all pine ski. And I was like, I can't look like a fucking idiot. Like I have to learn a little bit. And oh my goodness, the first time I was sobbing, we started walking down. It was terrible. He's a saint.

unknown 20:34

He's a saint.

SPEAKER_03 20:35

And then I'm thinking I also think one of the hardest things is getting off of the um chairlift. The chairlift. You know what? I'm not as bad as you would think of my person.

SPEAKER_04 20:45

I'm terrible.

SPEAKER_01 20:49

I'm just thinking if I hit someone, that's on you. I'm wearing a neon vest. Like, that is on you, girl.

SPEAKER_06 20:55

Do you go into most of your life with that mentality of like, we're gonna try it and figure it out?

SPEAKER_01 21:00

Yeah. I always say I will try something once. And if I hate it, I won't do it again. I tried, we were in Park City, Utah, and I was like, let's try like, let's try a black. Like, I can do it, you know. It's my second time on skis. I can try a black. Cried. It took us like an hour and a half to get down, and we got down, and now I know I'm never doing that again. He was through like trees and like around all these. Oh my goodness, we won't be doing that again. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 21:27

Um, you told our producer Julia that you have a seeing eye dog, but he's retiring.

SPEAKER_01 21:33

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 21:33

How do you feel? That must be very emotional.

SPEAKER_01 21:36

Yes. So his name is Radar, because obviously the best name ever. Um he is a 90 pound yellow lab. He's a big boy. And oh my goodness, he is like my best friend. Just getting my independence back, like having him and not having to rely on like everyone else, is so amazing. But yes, he's in the process of retiring. He's an old little man. So it's hard. Like the thought of like Not being able to work with him all the time is hard, but he deserves it. He had such an amazing working life and he's such a hard, passionate worker. Like he loves working and he's so good at what he does. This is so weird. We're talking about a dog right now. But like he's so amazing. He's so, so, so amazing and so like OCD and anal about things. Like, if I try to cross the street with my boyfriend, that's not at a crosswalk. He's like, girl, what are you doing? He's like, we're supposed to be at the crosswalk, but he's gonna live with my parents, and I'm gonna get a new pupper. So I'm super excited. And he deserves to live his spoiled, retired life now. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_06 22:36

It's like you're like a grandkid for your.

SPEAKER_01 22:39

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_03 22:40

He's beyond spoiled with them, which he deserves it.

SPEAKER_06 22:44

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 22:45

Are you just as picky about finding a new puppy as you are like with your team for swimming?

SPEAKER_01 22:49

Honestly, so the foundation I work with, Guide Dog Foundation, they are so amazing. They are a nonprofit and they give veterans and um blind people like me, um, service animals and guide dogs. Wait, can you guys guess how much like it costs to train and raise a guide dog?

SPEAKER_06 23:05

Oh, I can't even fathom.

SPEAKER_03 23:06

I don't even, I don't even know where to see.

SPEAKER_06 23:08

$70,000, baby?

SPEAKER_03 23:09

Oh my god, is that are we talking those?

SPEAKER_06 23:12

I think it's incredibly high.

SPEAKER_01 23:13

It is incredibly high, but just like, okay, it's$70,000. Oh my god, for a guide dog. And they do it all non-for-profit. They are amazing, but they're so they are so picky with who you're matched with. Like, this has to be your perfect team. Radar has the same personality as me. He's like an introverted extrovert. So like he needs his time to like recharge his battery, but at the same time, he's like that bubbly cute boy that like you just want to be around. And like, so perfect for like my lifestyle. He was raised by the New York Islanders, so he's used to like loud arenas, things like that. So it's so good when he's like on pool deck, he's unfazed by anything. Like, yeah, there will be screaming and he's just snoring, and you're like, Oh yeah, that's my guy. Yeah, that's him.

SPEAKER_06 23:57

So, how's the process been in trying to be matched with a new one? It must it sounds like dating.

SPEAKER_01 24:02

Yeah, yeah, no, it like kind of is like it literally has to be your perfect match. I'm a little bit picky with like what I want because I love like a bigger dog, um, and I also have like a faster tempo. So they literally track every single part of your life. I had a puppy that we thought was gonna work out. He ended up not working out for like the smallest, littlest reason. He has like a slight left pull, so he kind of turns a little bit and bows a little bit to the left.

SPEAKER_04 24:25

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_01 24:26

And like, nope, he's not a match for me anymore. And it's like crazy how specific they are, but they need this match to literally be perfect. I mean, uh he is guiding a blind person.

SPEAKER_06 24:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:37

So kind of has to be like top tier.

SPEAKER_06 24:40

So we were talking a little bit before the cameras about your nails and your look and that you're a look queen and we love it.

SPEAKER_01 24:46

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 24:46

You are working on combating inaccessibility in the makeup world because you love makeup and you talk about on your pages um your love of makeup and how you do your makeup. What how are you trying to combat the inaccessibility in that field?

SPEAKER_01 24:59

The world is not set up for people with disabilities, which is so unfortunate. And you know, the thing about uh accessibility is it's it's really not that expensive and it benefits everyone. Like my parents are just in their 50s and can't see shit. So yeah, yeah. It's like this also benefits everybody. But a lot of brands like to put a stamp on their products and say that they're accessible. So for instance, there will be a brand that puts Brill on their packaging and they'll say, We have an accessible makeup brand, like come check us out. Accessibility, accessibility. But only 7% of the blind community can read Brill. So is that accessible? Right, not really. You're kind of just checking a box at that point. We need we're doing no research, yeah, zero research, 150% not asking real blind people. This seems like there's someone who's fully able-bodied behind this. We need people that are truly living through these experiences, being the ones that are putting in the effort to make it accessible. So for me, the most accessible thing, I actually came out with a bundle with ELF Cosmetics called Beauty. It's called Beauty for Every Eye Bundle. This was uh during the Paralympic Games in 2024. And instead of it having Brille, it had a tactile barcode so you could feel where the barcode was. And you can scan it with your phone, which every blind person loves their technologies. And it was an audio memo of me speaking and saying what the product is, what the shade was, how to use it, how to apply it. That is true accessibility. And we love to see it. But I go into a Sephora. I do love me, my Sephora. I love me my Sephora, and I have no idea what is anywhere. And that is so frustrating to have such lack of accessibility. And I go in and I'm trusting everyone else. I'm like, okay, like what's my shade in this? Yeah. And they'll be like, this is your shade. And I go home and it's like literally white on my skin, and oh my boyfriend gets so mad at me. He's like, Are you kidding me? We're going to Sephora again just for you to leave and be pissed off. I'm like, honestly, so true.

SPEAKER_02 27:00

Like, you're wrong. Yeah, they do. They do. Yes, they do. Thank you, Sephora.

SPEAKER_06 27:06

So, what are some of your holy grail makeup products?

SPEAKER_01 27:09

Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_06 27:10

From both an accessibility standpoint, but also just things you love and you're obsessed over.

SPEAKER_01 27:15

Um, so there is very lack of accessibility in the makeup world. So honestly, there are no products that I use that are accessible, which is crazy. Like zero products that I use are accessible. Um, I have to make them accessible by doing like small things, like putting like um a little rubber band on like I have a black and a brown mascara, so I'll put like the rubber band on the black mascara. So I know, okay, this one's a black mascara. I've had days where I'm like leaving the house and my mom's like we were in the car and he goes, Do you have a booty blender? And I was like, I do not have a booty blender. I was like, no, she's not here. But like trying new products is so scary too, because like rare beauty blush. Like if I apply rare beauty blush the way I do with regular blush, like you would look like a clown. Is it just like full coverage?

SPEAKER_03 28:04

It is so pigmented, so you one dot and it's like one dot for your whole face. Like it's crazy. But um But it's also amazing once you blend it properly. It's like the best. It is amazing, it's top tier. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 28:19

You talk about how like the misconception about blind people is that they're like wearing dark sunglasses and they hide in the shadows and everything. And just by your representation, you're changing the idea of what a blind person can do and look like we're obsessed with you so much.

SPEAKER_01 28:37

Thank you.

SPEAKER_06 28:37

We'll be right back with your obsession, but can you tease us with one word?

SPEAKER_01 28:40

Yes, okay. I think you guys will get this, but my one word is gloss. I think you'll get it. Oh, no way.

SPEAKER_06 28:47

Fabulous. We'll be right back.

SPEAKER_01 28:48

Oh my god, I hope it's a good lip gloss.

SPEAKER_03 28:55

We're back.

SPEAKER_06 28:56

We're back. Um, gloss. You tease us with the word gloss. Yes. What are you obsessed with?

SPEAKER_01 29:01

Tell us. Okay, I'm obsessed with the ELF Cosmetics gloss reviver lip balm. She's so good. She moisturizes like a lip balm, but she's like glossy, but not sticky because like my hair gets everywhere. It just has so much hair. The wind. And if it sticks on my lips, I'm like, ugh. So we love her. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03 29:18

Do you have her with you right now?

SPEAKER_06 29:20

Yeah, show us, show us.

SPEAKER_01 29:21

Yes, I do.

SPEAKER_06 29:21

Are you wearing it?

SPEAKER_01 29:22

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 29:23

Okay. Your lips look phenomenal.

unknown 29:25

Thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 29:26

Okay. Here she is. Oh. She's so good. I love like any of like the nude natural colors. There she is. There she is.

SPEAKER_03 29:33

Strawberry shortcake. Yes. Okay, is this the flavor that you're also obsessed with? Yes.

SPEAKER_01 29:38

I love strawberry shortcake and I also love the peach one. Okay. They're both so good. Highly recommend. But it's like moisturizing, but at the same time, I'm always a girl who like needs like a little gloss or something on at all times. And she does it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 29:50

So how many colors do they have?

SPEAKER_01 29:53

A lot. They have like so many. The shade range is amazing, but I always love like a little pinky nude shade. So those are like my go-tos. Yeah. Um, but they have like a clear one too that's good, just like for before bed and stuff. Like I use it all the time.

SPEAKER_06 30:07

So it's super moisturizing.

SPEAKER_01 30:09

So moisturizing, so good. We love it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 30:11

So this is what I was just during the break. I was asking a question, and our producer was like, Emily, shush, wait until we start this segment. So I have really dry lips. Like this would help, like, if I put that on overnight. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 30:21

100%.

SPEAKER_06 30:22

Especially just like it's so good. Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:26

The lips are like always just moisturized, and I get so dry from the chlorine, unfortunately. And we've had a rough winter here. So, like, on top of that, um, highly recommend.

SPEAKER_03 30:36

Oh my god. I love a I love a gloss. I and to your point, I don't wear a gloss often because it's windy, or like I'll put it on and I walk outside and I literally feel like everything attaches. Because you have like a mustache immediately, and I'm like, why did I do this?

SPEAKER_01 30:51

And then it rubs off and I don't reapply because I'm like, it somehow like ends up all over your face and you just look like a mess. But no, this is amazing.

SPEAKER_03 30:59

Oh my god. Well, I trust you because you've tried them all. Like I literally have.

SPEAKER_01 31:03

Like I've tried everything. There are a bunch that I like, but right now this is the go-to. This is the go-to. We're obsessed with her.

SPEAKER_06 31:09

I love having a hyperfixation like that at the moment, just like something, also something so little. I assume it's not that expensive.

SPEAKER_01 31:16

No, I think it's like$10. Elf is like, it's so good and it's so affordable. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 31:21

And you can find it at everyone.

SPEAKER_03 31:22

Well, I just want to say Elf is everywhere, right? Everywhere. It's not just Sephora or something. Like you run to CVS and you're like, oh, elf. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 31:30

I my lip hydration journey is that I'm obsessed and addicted to Vaseline. Like, legitimately addicted.

SPEAKER_01 31:36

No, like I went through a phase of that with Aquifore where it was like, if I don't have Aquafort in my lips, like I'm starting to like shake and shit.

SPEAKER_06 31:43

It's really bad. I've noticed like I won't have it on me and I'll forget it.

SPEAKER_02 31:47

And I'm like, You're panicking. Yeah.

unknown 31:49

Panic.

SPEAKER_02 31:50

No, because it's going on. Yeah, the rest of the rest of the day is gone.

SPEAKER_06 31:53

Yeah, I'll have to like run into a CVS and buy one because I'm like, I can't go on.

SPEAKER_03 31:58

Cracked lips, absolutely not there.

SPEAKER_06 32:00

You will not find me with a dry lip at all.

SPEAKER_03 32:03

I know. I have a dry lip right now. Don't zoom in through. She needs the lip reviver. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 32:09

And it's when those things happen, you're like, everyone's looking at my lips. Yeah. You're like, everyone's talking about my lips. It's pulsating.

SPEAKER_01 32:15

Mine is like pulsating. Oh my gosh, no, it's so bad. Once you have like one thing that you have in your head, you think the world is like staring at it, meanwhile, you're the world just doesn't care about you.

SPEAKER_06 32:25

They're thinking about it.

SPEAKER_03 32:26

Yes, exactly. Like this is how I feel about wearing a red lip. Like, I don't wear a color. I usually wear something like very mild, but if I put a color on my lip, like a red or something bold, and I walk outside, I swear to God, everyone's like, oh, she's trying a new thing. And I'm like, how does everybody know that this is new for me? Exactly. Meanwhile, everybody's staring at me. Meanwhile, nobody's looking at me. Nobody cares.

SPEAKER_01 32:50

Like, that's how we feel when I'm like skiing or like something like that. I'm like, ugh, like I just want to be cute and I have to wear this god-awful neon blind vest. And I'm like, you know what? I might, they're going to stare at me because I'm wearing a neon vest. I might as well give them something else to stare at. So I'm like bedazzling my ski poles. And like just being a girl. Like, if they're gonna stare, give them something to really look at.

SPEAKER_06 33:11

I always joke that my favorite thing is to be a girl. Like, yes. When I'm in my girl moments, when I'm in my girl moments, I just feel I could take on the world. Yes. So when you swim, chlorine makes you super dehydrated and your skin and everything. What are some other hydrating products you?

SPEAKER_01 33:26

Yes. So, oh my goodness, I love everything. Right now I'm on like a tacha run. So I'm using like all of these amazing tacha products, and I love it. I also love like a drunk elephant. Um, yes, but right now, very deep into tacha and highly recommend everything. My eyes are super sensitive. So sometimes when I put even like skincare, not even like eye creams, uh, my eyes will be like watering and red and awful, but these have not been bothering me. So very happy with how that's going right now. I also love hair care. Like we love hair care too. Uh especially as a girl on like chlorine. Yes, hair products are so important. I'm always lathering myself up with it.

SPEAKER_06 34:07

What's your go-to conditioner?

SPEAKER_01 34:09

Okay, so on the very low key, I haven't found one that I'm like absolutely diehard obsessed with. So I was like, okay, I'm very much like a hair girl person, love my hair in chlorine all the time, need to keep it healthy. So on the very low key, I'm actually starting like a hair brand. That's amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Um, it's gonna be fully accessible. Amazing. Yes, because as it should be. Yeah, um, and I'm like perfecting all the products. We've been going through this process for like two years now because I'm like, I need these products to be perfect, like literally perfection. Yeah. Um, so yeah, right now I really love where my conditioner's at. So to be determined, but I also love Amika. But yeah, I like Amika.

SPEAKER_03 34:55

I love Amica. It's fun colors. Yes, yes, I love that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 34:59

Yeah, no way.

SPEAKER_03 35:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 35:00

Yeah. Oh my god, this is so okay. We gotta talk about the slide. How has it been? How's the process?

SPEAKER_01 35:05

It's been really, really fun. Um, just like being able to try out all these products and like the different scents and things like that. It's been really, really cool. And I'm so excited to make it something that's like truly accessible for people because I think that's so important. Again, blindness is such a spectrum. So I want it to be like across the board accessible. So it's gonna be color-coded for those that can see colors. Um, and then on top of that, it's going to be textural. So, like every single bottle is gonna be a different texture, and you will be able to find the difference of it just by touching it because that is true accessibility. Wow. So that's like my main thing. But obviously, accessible is great and all, but if it's not a good product, then like no thank you. So she will be perfect.

SPEAKER_06 35:45

Yeah, also I think there's something to be said about making a really uh the perfect product that is accessible, as opposed to just being like, it's an accessible product, but we we're gonna spend half the amount of money and time on the thing.

SPEAKER_01 35:58

No, no, no. She's going to be like good for damn like obviously I'm I have color in my hair, like bleach all the time, and like chlorine is not good for her. So yeah, we're still working on like all of the exact final things, but right now I'm really, really loving where it's at.

SPEAKER_06 36:17

So cool.

SPEAKER_04 36:18

Yes, I'm so excited.

SPEAKER_06 36:20

Can you say the name of your brand? Um, don't say anything you don't want to say.

SPEAKER_01 36:24

No, no, no, I definitely can. So my name is Anastasia. I'm Greek, but all of my cousins have like the same name. So my nickname is Toss. So it's gonna be called Toss for Touch and Smell, T-A-S. Love it because accessibility, touch and smell. Yes, that's so amazing. I love it.

SPEAKER_06 36:46

That's amazing. We're running out of time, but we want to do a lightning round to get your take on some final hotspots.

SPEAKER_03 36:51

Oh my goodness, yay!

SPEAKER_06 36:52

Simply tell us if you're obsessed or over it.

SPEAKER_03 36:55

Okay. Ready? Okay. Double stuffed Oreos. Obsessed.

SPEAKER_06 37:00

Valor jumpsuits.

SPEAKER_03 37:02

Obsessed?

SPEAKER_06 37:02

I know I'm getting the water.

SPEAKER_01 37:04

Are you kidding me?

SPEAKER_06 37:04

You look so good at that.

SPEAKER_01 37:06

Water polo. Ooh, I'm gonna say obsessed. So badass.

SPEAKER_06 37:11

Fruit riot.

SPEAKER_01 37:13

Obsessed! Like my whole freezer needs to be stocked, obsessed. I need to try them. They're so good.

SPEAKER_06 37:20

So good. They'll change your life. Yeah, they will. Obsessed.

SPEAKER_03 37:22

Um, electrolytes. Obsessed.

SPEAKER_06 37:25

Gua shaw.

SPEAKER_03 37:27

Obsessed. Seltzer water.

SPEAKER_01 37:30

I prefer a Diet Coke. Accents over it. Accents, obsessed. Obsessed. What's your favorite accent? Oh my goodness. Okay, my man is Russian and his whole family is Russian. So I'm gonna say like a Russian accent, but like a French accent, too. I love it. When we were in Paris, I was like, oh, these people sound rich. You guys sound wealthy. Like, I love that.

SPEAKER_06 37:53

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 37:54

What's your favorite accents?

SPEAKER_06 37:55

Ooh, well, okay, this is like, I'm from the Boston area, and I'm so Boston-pilled that like a Boston accent like really gets me going.

SPEAKER_04 38:04

Love that. Love that.

SPEAKER_06 38:05

The Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, that thing like works for me. The Michaela accent is my favorite accent in the world.

SPEAKER_02 38:12

Make it nice and chef. Make it nice and chef.

SPEAKER_04 38:17

Take a seat. Yeah. Take it in.

unknown 38:20

I love her.

SPEAKER_02 38:22

I love her. She's so controversial, but full fan love Michaela.

SPEAKER_01 38:26

Love.

SPEAKER_06 38:27

And she's just doing her.

SPEAKER_01 38:28

She is so her, and everyone hates her for being her. And you know what? Be you, girl.

SPEAKER_06 38:33

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 38:33

Make it nice and shab.

SPEAKER_06 38:34

Make it shaft. That's my favorite accent.

SPEAKER_01 38:37

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 38:37

I don't even know if you could call that an accent, as much as just her.

SPEAKER_01 38:40

Yeah, that's just a niche Michaela thing, but like a Boston accent, we love that. Love. Love a New York accent too. Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 38:47

We have one final question. Oh yes.

SPEAKER_01 38:49

Ready? One, two, three. Are you obsessed with us? I'm so obsessed with you guys.

SPEAKER_06 38:54

Oh my god. We love you so much.

SPEAKER_01 38:56

Oh my gosh, I'm sorry. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_06 38:58

Thank you for being here. Tell our listeners and watchers where they can find you. Yes, where can we find you?

SPEAKER_01 39:02

Yes. Okay. Hi guys. Come check me out on Instagram and TikTok at Anastasia underscore K underscore P. Bye.

SPEAKER_06 39:09

You'll learn a lot. You'll have a lot of fun. It's great.

SPEAKER_01 39:12

Yes, education. Woohoo! Yay! Thank you so much. Thanks, guys. Awesome.

SPEAKER_06 39:19

Thanks for tuning in.

SPEAKER_03 39:20

Are you obsessed with us? Please like, comment, and subscribe.

SPEAKER_06 39:24

Bye.

SPEAKER_00 39:35

So you can obviously skip this. But no matter what you do, don't forget to make it nice and shab. Oh