The Price of Not Slowing Down (Part 1)

In this powerful episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses sit down with Canadian podcaster Stephen Vine, host of Disability Diaries. Known for his sharp wit and musical heart, Stephen shares the intimate, harrowing story of how ignoring warning signs, overworking, and a high-stress lifestyle led to a catastrophic health crisis that changed his life forever. After surviving a near-fatal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), Stephen lost his sight, his leg, and his colon—but not his sense of humor or determination.
The conversation explores his fast-paced past as a restaurant owner serving celebrities like Mel Gibson, Linda Blair, and John Candy. Stephen walks us through the day his life changed and the emotional toll that followed. With vulnerability and hope, he shares how he moved from bitterness to purpose—learning to adapt, reconnect with joy, and begin his podcast, which has become a platform for elevating voices within the disability community.
Listeners will gain insights into resilience, the power of listening, and how choosing to stop digging can help you climb out of life’s deepest holes.

Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick
01:05 – Penn and Moses banter, Superman joke
02:18 – Guest intro: Stephen Vine of Disability Diaries
03:10 – Quote of the Day: “Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens” – Jimi Hendrix
04:38 – Learning to listen after blindness
06:57 – Celebrity clientele from Stephen’s former career
08:45 – Workaholism, stress, and health warnings
11:40 – The day of the aneurysm: ignored signs and collapse
14:01 – Waking from the coma: adjusting to total blindness
16:24 – Drinking culture, grief, and changing relationships with alcohol
18:38 – Healing, rehab, and redefining identity
21:02 – Finding support through Kristin and taking back his life
23:18 – Empowerment, advocacy, and thriving through disability
25:00 – Closing remarks and teaser for Part 2