Mystic Access Podcast: Where The Magic Is In Learning

This episode is truly out of this world—and not just metaphorically.

If you love curling up with a good book from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, this episode is especially for you.

Do you love an episode that gives you a little bit of everything? High tech, low tech, practical info, and a dash of surprise? Yes, please.

This episode is a delightful mixed bag—in the best possible way. We’ve got two very different low-tech demos, a juicy tech update for the gadget lovers, and one topic that surprised even us. Think of it like Kim’s column in Our Special from National Braille Press—something for every skill level. So buckle up. This ride has range.

We hope you’re in the mood for some hands-on learning, because this episode is packed with not one, but TWO demos that run under Windows 10/11—plus a cozy bonus to help you survive winter in style. Demo #1: FastPlay Media Player for Windows Chris kicks things off with a walkthrough of FastPlay, a free Windows-based media player that comes with some pleasantly unexpected features. In this demo, we: * Tour the menus and layout * Explore handy keyboard commands * Learn how to control and manage music playback * Discover a few cool touches that make this player stand out If you’re looking for a lightweight, accessible media player, FastPlay might be your new favorite. Download it directly free from GitHub by activating this link. Demo #2: BlindRSS Feed Reader Next up, we dive into BlindRSS, another free Windows program—this time designed to help you keep up with your favorite websites and blogs. Not sure what RSS is? No problem! We explain: * What RSS feeds are * How RSS readers organize content for you * Why

You may be relieved to know that today’s episode gives hospitals and medical talk a well-deserved rest. Instead, we’re cozying up with ideas to keep you entertained, informed, and moving through the coldest months of the year. Grab a blanket—let’s dive in. Reading, Reimagined What kind of reader are you? In this episode, we take a nostalgic stroll down Memory Lane while exploring different reading formats—some beloved, some… controversial. We chat about: * The **perils and pitfalls of abridged books** * **Free TTS narration** and when it shines (or doesn’t) * **Dramatized audiobooks, original audio series, and where to get them** Along the way, we share recommendations and tips on how to research and discover formats that best match *your* reading style. Our hope is to introduce—or reintroduce—you to new ways to enhance your reading pleasure. (Yes, we noticed the irony of talking about reading while being a podcast. Roll with us.) Lights, Camera… Audio Description! If you know us, you know we’re huge fans

In this episode, Chris and Kim share even more adventures from their daily lives. They kick things off by talking about Chris’s We-Walk cane—and the mystery of why it decided to walk away on its own. Next, they discuss and demonstrate a talking blood pressure monitor that connects to a smartphone app via Bluetooth, sharing their thoughts and experiences with it. They also chat about a cool pill organizer they picked up on Amazon and how it fits into their routine. Some links on this page are our Amazon affiliate links. Purchasing from this page we may receive a small commission. To wrap things up, Chris and Kim send heartfelt thanks to everyone who reached out with kind words and well wishes. As always, thank you for listening and for being part of the podcast community. —

We’re excited to both be here for this episode! Chris is now out of the hospital and back home. We decided to devote this episode to sharing some tips and things we’ve learned during this experience. If you’re faced with an emergency room visit or hospitalization, what do you need to take into account physically, emotionally, and financially? What should you bring? What should you do and not do? We hope our tips, perspectives, and personal experiences are helpful if you ever go through this stressful situation, either as the patient or the primary family member involved. We close the episode with holiday wishes for all of you. Have a happy, merry season, hold your loved ones close, and stay safe and well if at all possible. Talk to you in the new year!

Today’s episode is very different than what we expected to release. Please listen to the first few minutes where Kim shares important news about the immediate future of Mystic Access and our podcast. Then, stay tuned as Kim and Lisa deliver two delicious holiday recipes. We’ll get these posted in the show notes as soon as possible. Thanks, as always, for listening.

Today’s episode is short but definitely sweet—think mini-pumpkin-pie sweet. Both of us are a little under the weather (Chris especially… send tissues!), but we still have a fun demo to share with you. First Things First: Our Annual Open House! Before we dive in, here’s your cheerful reminder that our annual *post-Turkey Day* open house is happening **Friday, November 28, from 1–5 PM ET**. Bring your leftovers-fueled stories, your tech questions, and your best holiday giggles—we always have an amazing time reconnecting with all of you. Register quickly and freely using this link. We can’t wait to see who pops in! Demo Time: The GNMDNR Bluetooth Pillow Speaker Kim cozies up to the mic to talk about the GNMDNR Bluetooth pillow speaker, a compact bedtime buddy with: * **Stereo sound** * **Two wonderfully distinct buttons** (yay, tactile controls!) * **A few dreamy features to help you drift into la-la land** One important note: the Amazon title says it includes white noise… but it doesn’t. No worries, t

Get ready for a little bit of everything in this festive episode! We’ve got an exciting announcement, a magical castle interview, and a cozy demo perfect for chilly evenings. First up: We’re thrilled to invite you to our day-after-Thanksgiving open house! It’s one of our favorite Mystic Access traditions, full of laughter, friendship, and a few surprise reunions over the years. And it’s free to join for everyone. Mark your calendars for Friday, November 28, 1–5 PM EDT, grab your virtual leftover turkey sandwich (or a slice of pie—no judgment here), and join us for an afternoon of great company and community fun. You can register your seat right here—before that pie coma hits! Then, in the castle: We welcome Natalie Mauceli, Editor with National Braille Press, who brings a sleigh-full of sparkle and delight! She’ll share NBP’s 2025 holiday picks, including brand-new books, classic returning favorites like the Peanuts calendar, and can’t-miss magazines such as Our Special and Syndicated Columnists Week

Short & Sweet: Cool Tech + Big News! Chris might be a bit under the weather this week , but we’re still bringing the heat with a super cool audio demo and a juicy announcement! Price Drop Alert! We’ve permanently reduced the price of our Windows 10 Audio Documentation! Originally $75 → now just $60! Still rocking Windows 10? Need a friendly tour of the Desktop, Taskbar, and all those basics that make PCs tick? This guide has your back! Meet Mrmorale: The Stand That Can Kim takes the spotlight with a demo of the Mrmorale Bluetooth-Induction Speaker—a gadget that totally earns its cape! This is an Amazon affiliate link, purchasing from this link we will receive a small commission. Why we love it: • It’s a phone/tablet stand • It doubles as a power bank • It handles Bluetooth and induction sound tech What’s induction? It’s magical audio sorcery that makes your tiny device sound bigger, bolder, and clearer—no pairing required! Kim shows off both modes with her iPhone and her Victor Reader Stream 3.

Today’s episode is jam-packed with practical tips, tech demos, a minor mystery, and even a dramatic drop test. Buckle up—we’ve got something for everyone! Tiny Accessories, Big Impact Who knew AirPods cases could spark so much excitement? We kick things off by proving that even the smallest accessories can change your entire tech experience. • Kim and Chris unveil their brand-new protective cases for the AirPods Pro 2. • Features, finishes, favorite perks—we cover it all. • And because Chris can’t resist science… he drop-tests his case live. For research, of course. You can purchase Chris’s case here. Kim’s is available from this link. These are both Amazon affiliate links, so Mystic Access receives a small commission if you buy through them The moral: whether it’s earbuds or kitchen gadgets, protect your gear, especially when traveling! Hable + BlindShell = Accessibility Power Duo A helpful tip from a listener sent us into full-on detective mode. The result? Chris demos how the Hable One keyboa

Show Notes: Sales, Scares, Stories, and So Much More! Today’s episode is a grab bag of goodness—updates, unboxings, tech tales, sales news, and even a sprinkle of story time. Settle in and enjoy the ride! A Surprise “Welcome to Fall” Sale We kicked off an impromptu autumn celebration with 17% off most products now through Friday, October 3. It’s the perfect moment to snag something you’ve had your eye on — including our latest offering, Audible Adventures. This is our best deal until Black Friday, so don’t miss it! Kim vs. iOS 26: A Cautionary Tale iOS 26 has landed, and Kim has quite the hair-raising story about updating her device. Don’t worry — it ends well! Tune in for lessons learned and things you might want to watch out for before you tap “Install Now.” AirPods Pro 3: Kim’s Big Decision Kim also dives into the AirPods Pro 3 experience with an unboxing clip and first impressions. Stick around toward the end of the episode to hear the unexpected decision she made about keeping them… or not. Chris’s

In this episode, we’ve got a little bit of everything—updates, surprises, demos, and stories that might make you smile: • Site Maintenance Notice – Our free downloads site, Mystic Access Downloads, will be offline for a short time while we make some changes on the backend. Don’t worry, the site will be back soon; it’ll just be in maintenance mode until it returns. When it’s online again, you’ll be able to download files as you always have. This has nothing to do with the downloadable products you may have purchased from Mystic Access! These can be downloaded from within your user account as normal. • Smart Oven Woes – Our Amazon smart oven suddenly stopped responding to Alexa voice commands. We share our experience, theories, and ask if you’ve run into the same issue. (Thankfully, our braille overlay is currently saving the day!) • Apple Event Reactions – Did you watch the latest Apple event? We share what caught our eye, what we’re dreaming about, and whether there’s anything we

Today’s episode is a melting pot of cautionary tales and practical tips from our recent adventures. Our goal isn’t to scare you, but to remind you to stay careful and vigilant—especially while traveling. In this episode, we cover: • Travel & Canes – A follow-up on our cane conversation from last time, sharing how our two-section telescopic canes performed during our flight home. Lots to recommend, but also one big concern. • Airport Security – A new and eye-opening experience before even boarding the plane. • Kim’s Scary Mistake – An unnerving incident in Buffalo that you’ll definitely want to learn from. • Transaction Monitoring – Why you should pay attention to those “annoying” notifications from services like Life Lock (we learned this the hard way). • Switching Phone Plans – Helping Kim’s mom move to a new provider came with its own set of complications—here’s what to watch out for when porting a number. • Verizon Home Internet Perks – We share why taking a gift card perk might not have b

Welcome to our final 2025 episode recorded in North Carolina! To kick things off, we brought you outside to experience some late-summer nature sounds. Unfortunately, the ambiance was interrupted by the air conditioner, so we moved the recording indoors. We hope the natural setting was a nice touch before the interruption! In this episode, we’re picking up where we left off last time with our tease about canes. An unexpected situation at the ACB convention has led us to new discoveries, and we’re now the proud owners of some telescoping canes! In This Episode: • Telescoping Cane Talk: We dive into two different telescoping canes we’ve recently tried out: • Ambutech’s Two-Section Graphite Cane: We’re big fans of Ambutech for their customizable options and top-notch quality. This cane is adjustable, making it a fantastic travel companion. However, we do have a small concern we share in the episode. Learn more about the cane and order yours by activating this link. • Sam Seavey’s Recommended Titanium Cane:

Most of this episode is dedicated to all things Amazon. We have numerous demos and thoughts to share on several products. First, however, we’re announcing a twenty-five percent off sale to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary on August 11. The sale runs from Friday August eighth through end of day Tuesday August twelfth, and you’ll save on all our audio documentation, including our new Audible Adventures product. We highly recommend it for all book-lovers! We begin our look at Amazon products with a discussion of our new latest generation Echo. We share the sad circumstances that led us to purchase it, and through the magic of editing you’ll be there with us as we unbox and set it up. We also play some tunes to show you its sound quality. On Prime day we also purchased new Fire tablets. This was yet another cool setup process. Chris talks about his, and Kim takes you through hers in close to real time so you can experience it, too. Finally, we take you with us as we check out Alexa+. thi

In this episode, we discuss our travels to and from the ACB Convention. Links coming soon. Stay tuned.