Badass, by Design — with Day Al-Mohamed

Penn and Moses welcome filmmaker, author, and policy expert Day Al-Mohamed. She shares her blindness story, trauma and recovery, and a practical view of advocacy from campus to Congress to the White House. The conversation covers ADA pressures, why state-level action matters, AI bias and disability, fencing as a confidence lab, and the power of authentic media (“Renegades” on PBS). Day closes with steady counsel for hard seasons: it will be okay—because we plan, support each other, and figure it out. Contact Info Guest — Day Al-Mohamed Website: dayalmohamed.com Books/Film: The Labyrinth Archivist; Renegades (PBS) Aftersight Web: aftersight.org Phone: (720) 712-8856 Email: [email protected] Producer Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight — [email protected] Show Credits Hosts: Penn Street, Moses Street Guest: Day Al-Mohamed — filmmaker, author, disability policy leader Producer: Jonathan Price An Aftersight Original Chapter Markers 00:00 — Cold open + show intro 00:28 — Cabin banter and Halloween setup 02:49 — Guest intro: policy, filmmaking, and advocacy 05:10 — Blindness origin and the “first question” problem 09:00 — Trauma, community, and rebuilding life 11:27 — From social work to law: rules that actually work 13:51 — Fencing and refusing limits 18:20 — First steps in policy and data-driven advocacy 20:43 — Statehouse internship to Capitol Hill 24:37 — ADA, regs, and where erosion happens 26:58 — What to do now: act local, build state protections 31:43 — How real constituents move votes 36:20 — AI bias, oversight, and disability truth 41:01 — Why stories change policy: books and film 45:46 — “Renegades” and disability history without inspiration porn 50:19 — What’s next: season two hopes and the blind detective 52:44 — The White House guide dog story 55:08 — What I’d whisper then, what I’d shout now 57:18 — Where to find Day + closing and Aftersight CTA