Endeavor to Connect

After a long journey across continents, Steve Baskis and the climbing team arrive in Tanzania to begin their ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. What follows is a raw, immersive look at life on the mountain—where weather, altitude, illness, and exhaustion test every member of the team. Through field recordings captured along the trail, listeners experience the climb step by step. From the logistics at the national park gate to the muddy trails, cold camps, and long days of hiking at altitude, the mountain quickly reminds the team that reaching the summit will require resilience, trust, and teamwork. Along the way, the expedition brings together an extraordinary group of climbers, including fellow blinded veterans Lonnie Bedwell and Aaron Hale. Aaron, who is both blind and deaf, approaches the mountain with remarkable determination after completing an ultra-distance run across Tanzania to reach the base of the climb. For Steve, the mountain is also an opportunity to document what adventure sounds like when experienced without sight. Through conversations, environmental sounds, and candid moments from the trail, listeners hear the rhythm of the climb—the rain on the trail, the voices guiding each step, the laughter among teammates, and the songs of the Tanzanian porters who call Kilimanjaro home. But as the team pushes higher, the mountain begins to take its toll. Weather slows progress, the trail becomes slick and unpredictable, and illness spreads among the climbers. At high camp, exhausted but determined, the team prepares for the most difficult part of the journey: the midnight summit push. In the next episode, the climbers step into the darkness to attempt the summit of Kilimanjaro. To explore the full Kilimanjaro Story Project—including the Endeavor Journal blog posts, the full three-part podcast series, and additional media from the expedition—visit: https://blindendeavors.org/on-the-mountain-to-tell-the-story-a-blind-endeavors-foundation-mission-to-kilimanjaro/

In Episode One of this three-part series, host Steve Baskis begins documenting an extraordinary expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro — the tallest mountain on the African continent. Three blind veterans, Steve Baskis, Lonnie Bedwell, and Aaron Hale, prepare to take on one of the world's most iconic summits. Each man carries a powerful story of resilience, service, and rebuilding after vision loss, and together they are setting out to challenge both the mountain and the limits others place on blindness. In this opening chapter, Steve introduces the mission behind the series, shares what it means to document the climb from a blind perspective, and sets the stage for what lies ahead. Listeners will also hear directly from climbers Lonnie Bedwell and Aaron Hale in personal phone conversations recorded during the preparation phase. This is not just a story about reaching the summit — it's a story about what is possible after loss. Follow the full expedition story and ongoing updates here: https://blindendeavors.org/on-the-mountain-to-tell-the-story-a-blind-endeavors-foundation-mission-to-kilimanjaro/ To explore more content and updates, visit: https://blindendeavors.org

In this episode of Endeavor to Connect, host Steve Baskis is joined by his partner Ally for an honest, experience-based conversation about relationships that include blindness or visual impairment. Together, they explore how communication, independence, and mutual respect shape healthy partnerships—especially when visual cues are absent. Topics include first impressions, common misconceptions about blindness, balancing support versus caregiving, adapting to daily life, and learning to communicate clearly through tone, language, and trust. This episode is designed for partners, friends, caregivers, and anyone seeking a deeper, more realistic understanding of blind–sighted relationships. This conversation only scratches the surface, and future episodes will continue these discussions with additional voices from partners, caregivers, and the blind and visually impaired community. Stay tuned as the conversation continues.

As the year comes to a close, host Steve Baskis shares a brief message of gratitude with the Endeavor to Connect community. This end-of-year episode thanks listeners for their continued support and reflects on the importance of connection and shared stories. Looking ahead to 2026, Steve invites listeners to contribute new ideas, topics, and voices that can help shape the future of the podcast. It's a short holiday-season call to action focused on community, awareness, and growth. Listeners are encouraged to subscribe, share the show, and continue the journey with the Blind Endeavors Foundation into the new year.  

In this episode of Endeavor to Connect, host Steve Baskis shares his personal reflections on the connection between blindness and mental health. Drawing from his experience of losing his sight during military service in Iraq, Steve talks about the early challenges of recovery, the feeling of isolation, and the process of learning to adapt. He discusses how blindness affected his independence, relationships, and mindset — and how small steps forward helped him rebuild confidence and find purpose. This conversation offers an honest look at adjustment, awareness, and the importance of movement and mental balance in everyday life.

In this episode of Endeavor to Connect, host Steve Baskis sits down with Joe Mornini, Executive Director of Team River Runner, to explore the power of adaptive paddling for veterans. Joe shares the origins of Team River Runner at Walter Reed in 2004, its growth to 45 chapters nationwide, and the unique "Out of Sight" programs that empower blind and visually impaired veterans to thrive on rivers, lakes, and oceans. Steve reflects on his personal journey—from early struggles with paddling after injury to tackling rivers across the country and even the Grand Canyon—thanks to the skills, community, and innovation fostered by Team River Runner. Together, they highlight the upcoming 21st Annual Biathlon in Washington, DC, and the importance of connection, teamwork, and shared experiences both on and off the water.     Learn more about Team River Runner and get involved at [ www.teamriverrunner.org

In this inspiring episode of Endeavor to Connect, host Steve Baskis sits down with fellow blind veteran, adventurer, and motivational speaker Lonnie Bedwell. From summiting towering peaks and kayaking the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, to mentoring others in adaptive sports, Lonnie shares his pursuit of the Explorers Grand Slam—a challenge to climb the highest peak on every continent and reach both poles. Together, Steve and Lonnie reflect on the power of community, the innovations that make adventure possible, and the mindset that turns obstacles into opportunities. Whether it's conquering mountains or mastering daily life skills, Lonnie's message is clear: take another step, because moving is living.

On the final day of an unforgettable adventure in Crested Butte, Colorado, blind and visually impaired veterans gather on the Oh-Be-Joyful Trail to reflect on a week filled with physical challenge, camaraderie, and personal growth. In this episode, host Steve Baskis captures raw, heartfelt conversations with fellow veterans and supporters during a mountain hike that marks the culmination of adaptive cycling, climbing, and rafting activities. These interviews offer insight into what it means to navigate life after vision loss—and how experiences like this can reignite purpose, independence, and connection. The episode also highlights the important work of the Adaptive Sports Center, which made this week of transformation possible. To learn more about the Adaptive Sports Center, visit https://adaptivesports.org

In this personal and revealing episode of Endeavor to Connect, Steve Baskis invites you into his home and daily life as a blind Army veteran. Through honest narration and immersive sound, he shares how he navigates the world without sight—offering insights into adaptive living, technology, and the overlooked details most people never consider. It's a rare glimpse into the quiet strength and ingenuity behind true independence.

In this first episode of *Endeavor to Connect*, host Steve Baskis shares his personal story of navigating life after sudden blindness due to a combat injury in Iraq. Steve, a blind Army veteran and founder of the Blind Endeavors Foundation, uses Apple's built-in screen reader, VoiceOver, to independently guide himself through 16 thoughtful questions. He speaks candidly about the emotional impact of vision loss, adapting to a new reality, the role of technology in gaining independence, and the power of connecting with others who've been through similar experiences. VoiceOver is a screen reader that allows blind and low vision users to interact with Apple devices using audio feedback and keyboard commands. Learn more about VoiceOver here: https://www.apple.com/accessibility/vision/ To dive deeper into this episode, including additional insights and reflections from Steve's story, visit the following blog post written by Susanne Meyer. She expands on topics Steve touches on and offers more detail for those wanting to explore further:   https://blindendeavors.org/beginning-the-journey-complementary-reflections-on-episode-1-of-endeavor-to-connect/ To learn more about the Blind Endeavors Foundation or to share your story, visit https://blindendeavors.org or email Steve directly at [email protected]. Thank you for listening, and we hope you'll join us for future episodes as we connect, share, and explore what's possible after vision loss.

Our mission is to initiate and foster meaningful connections between members of the blind/visually impaired community and society at large. We aim to connect people with resources, provide a platform to share experiences, and tell stories of resilience and courage. Visual impairment and blindness affect a large percentage of the population in one way or another, and we want to help people learn, adapt, and move forward with their lives.    In Endeavor to Connect, we engage in deep, honest conversations with people who have been touched by blindness in various ways. We will speak with people who have found themselves unexpectedly thrust into a new life, to those who work on breaking down the challenges that visual impairment and blindness bring with them, to caregivers with their own perspective on vision loss. We will take you inside the world of doctors, rehabilitation specialists, developers of adaptive technology, advocates for accessibility, and many more. By taking such a diverse approach, we aim to shed light on the many influences that help to create a more inclusive world.    Through these conversations, we aim to raise awareness of the challenges people face — but also of what is possible when we manage to break down these barriers. We want to change the public perception of what it means to have a visual impairment, and we want to encourage communities to prioritize accessibility and inclusion. We are convinced that the best way to show people that blindness is a different way of experiencing the world rather than the end of a meaningful life is to give people their own voices, and let them share their own stories and insights.