Software engineer Mike Gorse shares how early mentorship, Linux accessibility work, and steady investing shaped his career and financial freedom. Hosts Chris Peterson and Liz Bottner explore his journey from Duxbury Systems to SUSE, the lessons he’s learned about networking, relocation, and accessibility in tech, and how a simple, long-term investing approach brought stability and choice. His advice: connect with peers in your field, volunteer to gain traction, stay open to opportunities, and align your work and finances with what matters most. Contact Info Guest — Mike Gorse 📧 mike@straddlethebox.org 🐘 @MikeGorse@mindly.social Penny Forward — pennyforward.com Aftersight — aftersight.org | feedback@aftersight.org | (720) 712-8856 Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight Show Credits Hosts: Chris Peterson, Liz Bottner Guest: Mike Gorse Producer / Post: Jonathan Price Music: Andre Louis Presented by: Penny Forward in partnership with Aftersight Sponsors: Thrivent and The Nasdaq Foundation Chapter Markers 00:00 — Intro: Building bright futures 00:15 — Meet Mike Gorse 02:10 — Early tech and Braille foundations 04:23 — First job at Duxbury Systems 06:41 — Linux and open-source accessibility 11:05 — Joining Novell and SUSE 13:23 — Handling discouragement and finding mentors 15:28 — Advice for career counselors and seekers 17:48 — Remote work and moving to Austin 19:50 — Context matters in career paths 22:11 — Housing co-ops and community 24:58 — Pros and cons of shared living 26:43 — Investing wisely and the Simple Path to Wealth 28:40 — FIRE and financial independence 30:54 — Networking and creating opportunities 33:19 — How to reach Mike 35:25 — Credits and Aftersight partnership

Chris Peterson and Liz Botner sit down with Andrew Babin, co-developer of HaloFi, a new voice-controlled money management app designed with accessibility in mind. Andrew shares his journey with Stargardt’s disease, his unexpected path from construction to finance, and how his experiences inspired the creation of HaloFi—a tool merging AI and voice technology to make financial management more inclusive. The conversation explores how AI-driven voice interfaces are transforming accessibility in finance, what it takes to break into the financial industry without prior experience, and how to persevere through personal and professional obstacles with determination and creativity. Contact Info Guest: Andrew Babin, Co-developer of HaloFi 📧 andrew@halofiapp.com 🌐 halofiapp.com Organization: Penny Forward 🌐 pennyforward.com Production Partner: Aftersight (formerly Audio Information Network of Colorado) 📞 (720) 712-8856 ✉️ feedback@aftersight.org 🌐 aftersight.org Producer: Jonathan Price Show Credits Hosted by Chris Peterson and Liz Botner Produced by Chris Peterson and Liz Botner Audio editing and post-production by Jonathan Price Music composed and performed by André Louis Distributed in partnership with Aftersight Penny Forward is a nonprofit providing accessible financial education programs by and for people who are blind. Chapter Markers 00:00 – Introduction and welcome back 01:10 – Andrew’s early life and Stargardt’s diagnosis 03:25 – From construction to finance: a career pivot 05:50 – Breaking into finance during the COVID era 07:30 – Navigating work and independence with vision loss 09:45 – Lessons in perseverance and enthusiasm 11:00 – The idea behind HaloFi 14:00 – Overcoming barriers in finance exams and accessibility 16:20 – Building inclusive technology from the ground up 18:40 – HaloFi demo and functionality walkthrough 23:50 – Future features and AI-driven financial actions 26:30 – Launch timeline and how to join the waitlist 28:15 – How to contact Andrew and follow the project 30:00 – Partnership announcement with Aftersight 30:36 – Closing remarks and credits

Liz Bottner leads this panel discussion on the most exciting, and affordable, technology the participants saw at the 2025 CSUN Assistive Technology Conference. New and Affordable Tech at CSUN with Unmute and Chicago LighthouseDownload Penny Forward Links Explore the Penny Forward My Tools for Living Shop pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lowden Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Good credit can open doors to lower interest rates, better housing options, and even job opportunities. In this workshop, we'll explore how credit works, effective ways to manage debt, and actionable strategies to build or rebuild your credit score. Whether you're starting fresh or working toward improvement, you'll leave with a clear roadmap to healthier credit.

We learn about the Certified Accessibility Tester program from Tanner Gers, founder and Managing Director of AccessAbility Officer, whose vision is the US disabled unemployment rate is the same as the US unemployment rate. More powerful than these words? Tanner walks the talk. Over 80% of his team has a severe disability, and a large majority of these individuals are blind professionals who use screen readers. Everything AccessAbility Officer does is driven by their big vision. They just happen to help companies make their websites accessible, and get more people with disabilities jobs. Tanner is also a National Beep Baseball Association 7-time NBBA All-Star and 3-time World Series MVP, US Paralympian in track and field, earning Gold at the Para Pan America Games in Guadalajara, a 2012 US Paralympic trials gold medalist, 2012 US Paralympic and 2013 World Championship team member, and the 2015 and 2016 National Champion in track cycling. Tanner has a Bachelors in Communications from the University of Arizona and MBA from Louisiana State University.

We're joined by Craig Co and Patrick Long, co-founders of Innosearch, e-commerce platform focused on making online shopping easy and enjoyable, especially for those with internet access challenges like blind or low-vision users. Innosearch offers millions of products and deals, and our site is fully accessible, working seamlessly with NVDA, Apple Voiceover, and other popular screen readers. We'll find out how anyone who finds current e-commerce platforms too complicated to navigate can use Innosearch to shop online effortlessly with just a few clicks.

In December, Penny Forward and the Chicago Lighthouse announced a partnership to open the "My Tools for Living" shop featuring nearly 300 assistive technology and independent living products for people with blindness and low vision. This week, Penny Forward founder and CEO, Chris Peterson, interviews Patrick Andrade and Brian Bussard from the Chicago Lighthouse to learn more about this collaboration and how it can help you find the right tools while supporting Penny Forward.

Many of us start the new year with financial resolutions, but staying on track can be tough. This interactive webinar will explore strategies to help you stick to your goals and set yourself up for long-term success. We’ll discuss effective tracking methods, tips for staying motivated throughout the year, and how to adjust your plans as life changes. This webinar is ideal for people of all financial backgrounds and will highlight accessible tools and resources for people with blindness or low vision. Join us to make 2025 the year you take control of your finances with confidence.

This week, Penny Forward founder and CEO, Chris Peterson, talks about his goals for 2025 and some changes you'll see to Penny Forward throughout the coming year.

Have you always believed that you could only make a living if you went to college? George Wurtzel was the star of a 2018 Subaru Outback commercial, but he is also a blind woodworker and craftsman who believes that blind people can be successful in any type of job. In part 2 of a two part interview, we’ll learn how George’s talent and resilience helped him to succeed throughout his 50-year woodworking career, and what it was like to film that famous Subaru commercial. Seeing The World In Ways You Never Imagined TranscriptDownload You can learn more about George by visiting his Wikipedia page at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Wurtzel or by visiting his web site, http://www.gmwurtzel.com/ pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Have you always believed that you could only make a living if you went to college? George Wurtzel was the star of a 2018 Subaru Outback commercial, but he is also a blind woodworker and craftsman who believes that blind people can be successful in any type of job. In part 1 of a two part interview, we’ll learn how George’s talent and resilience helped him to succeed throughout his 50-year woodworking career, and what it was like to film that famous Subaru commercial. Seeing The World In Ways You Never Imagined Pt 1 TranscriptDownload You can learn more about George by visiting his Wikipedia page at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Wurtzel or by visiting his web site, http://www.gmwurtzel.com/  pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

While the Penny Forward Podcast team is preparing for the holidays, we thought we'd re-run the last episode of 2021, we shared a recording of a Zoom call hosted by our friend Mo Carpenter. She runs a Facebook group for blind parents called "Parenting Out Of Sight Kids," and they host a biweekly zoom call discussing topics of interest to blind parents. During last month's call, we had a conversation about staying on budget during the holidays. And it was such an enjoyable conversation that we wanted to share it with you. So, while you are enjoying the holidays with your friends and family, or reaching out to those who may be feeling isolated from their friends and family, we hope you will enjoy this discussion about budgeting during the holidays. Holiday Budgeting TipsDownload pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

"I now find advocacy really rewarding, and I realize that it's a long game, and sometimes advocacy's going to feel like you're banging your head against a brick wall, but every so often, the wall moves just a little bit. So, there is hope, and it can get better, and that's why I do believe, very strongly, in the work that the NFB does. Because it has turned many lives around, including mine." Join us as we talk with Jonathan Mosen from NFB. Show notes The Past, Present, and Future of Blindness Media and Technology with Jonathan MosenDownload Guest: Jonathan Mosen Jonathan's Email: jmosen@nfb.org Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Because of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we wanted to focus on Penny Forward’s employment programs, so we brought on Jeremy Grandstaff, who leads our youth employment and advocacy programs, and is also the author of our Employment Essentials course, to talk about those things. In addition to his work with Penny Forward, Jeremy lives just outside Washington D.C, with his husband Jerry and their seeing eye dog Ozzy. Jeremy works for CurbCutOS as the VP of Business Development, focusing on bringing in new customers to help them develop accessible digital assets. And he is a strong champion of learning in the workplace about DEI initiatives. Show notes Employment Programs with Jeremy Grandstaff TranscriptDownload Guest: Jeremy Grandstaff with CurbCutOS Jeremy Grandstaff Email: Jeremyg@curbcutos.com or Jeremy.Grandstaff@pennyforward.com Phone: 202-810-5368 Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

James Boehm, Amanda Juetten, and Angus Kola from Kustom Canes, and the You Cane Give initiative, talk about their organizations and how they fund a need that's super important, and one we probably don't think about here in the United States, which is the needs of the blind and visually impaired in the rest of the world, who may not have access to something as simple as a long white cane. Show notes You Cane Give Initiative TranscriptDownload Guest: James Boehm, Amanda Juetten, Angus Kola from Kustom Canes and the You Cane Give initiative. Kustom Cane Website: https://youcanegive.org/ Kustom Cane Email: KustomCane@gmail.com You Cane Give Email: YouCaneGive@gmail-com Phone: 901-483-1515 Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Learn about the founder of this startup and what it takes to make your dream turn into reality. Show notes Glidance TranscriptDownload Guest: Amos Miller Glidance Website: https://glidance.io/ Glidance Facebook Profile  https://www.facebook.com/glidance.io  Glidance LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/glidance/ Glidance Instagram Profile: https://www.instagram.com/glidance.io/ Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

In this episode, we have Richard Rueda, Katie Frederick, and Lori Scharff, not necessarily in that order, from the APH Connect Center, back on, as we do almost every year at about this time, to talk about the APH Connect Center. For those of you who are unaware of what that is, we’ll tell you in just a second. We’ll also find out what’s new at the APH Connect Center, and what people might be able to be expecting from the future. Show notes Penny Forward Podcast S2024 E16Download Connect with APH Connect Center APH Website: www.aphconnectcenter.org Email: connectcenter@aph.org Call information and referral line: 800-232-5463 Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Chris, Liz, and MOe talk with Mike Calvo, co-founder of Pneuma Solutions, about how, as a high school dropout, running with the wrong crowd, he found growth, success, and belonging in the blind community. Show notes Penny Forward Podcast S2024 E15Download Connect with Pneuma Solutions Pneuma Solutions Website: https://pneumasolutions.com/ Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Chris, Liz, and MOe talk with Mike Calvo, co-founder of Pneuma Solutions, about how, as a high school dropout, running with the wrong crowd, he found growth, success, and belonging in the blind community. Show notes S2024 Episode 14 Mike CalvoDownload Connect with Pneuma Solutions Pneuma Solutions Website: https://pneumasolutions.com/ Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Hosts sit down with Marci Duty, a rep for Computers for the Blind, and talk about their low-cost laptops and desktop computers for the blind, their partners, and the education classes you can get access to with a computer from Computers for the Blind.   Show notes Penny-Forward-Podcast-S2024-E13Download Transcript .TXT File Connect with Computers For The Blind Computers For The Blind Website: https://computersfortheblind.org/ Computers For The Blind Email: service@computersfortheblind.org Computers For The Blind Phone: +1 214-340-6328 Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin