In this episode of Technically Working, we sit down with Amanda J. Heal — author, former government lawyer, speaker, coach, and all-around awesome human. This episode is packed with stories about tech, purpose, accessibility, audio production, and the wild evolution of tools blind people used then… and now.

• Amanda’s background, including:

• Growing up totally blind in Australia

• Her 17-year government legal career
• How accessibility tools evolved from cassette tapes and scanners to the tech we use today
• The journey from being laid off to finding her life’s purpose
• Why she wrote her book “Seeing by Vision, Not by Sight”
• Her upcoming audiobook, the recording process, and the decision to hire a narrator

• How blind authors, creators, and coaches build workflows using:

• Ulysses

• Mantis
• Vocaster 2
• Reaper
• Ecamm Live
• Loopback
• The importance of knowing when to stop DIY-ing everything and let someone help
• Video setup tips, lighting, and building a background that tells your story
• Editing challenges and the joy of remembering phantom power exists
• Building online courses, checklists, and systems that keep content creation accessible and stress-free

Title: Seeing by Vision, Not by Sight Tagline: How to discover your life's purpose and put it into action.

Amanda shares the process she used to move from fear and uncertainty to clarity and purpose — and teaches you how to do the same. It’s filled with exercises, reflections, and real client stories.

Available on:

• Amazon
• Apple Books
• Kindle

Audiobook is currently in production.

Amanda is challenging herself to help as many people as possible uncover their purpose — for $25 AUD. (Which is even less in USD.) If you’ve been feeling stuck, curious, or wanting clarity, this is an easy way to get started.

• LinkedIn: Amanda J. Heal
• Email: amanda@amandaheal.com.au
• Website: amandaheal.com.au

• Michael on Mastodon: @payown@dragonscave.space
• Damashe on Mastodon: @damashe@technically.social
• Show Bot (seriously, follow it): @TW@technically.social
• Email: feedback@technicallyworking.show

And no — you don’t need to write us with Garth’s address. (Unless you’re Sean… maybe.)

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In this reflective and lively episode, Michael and Damashe return to their usual unscripted banter after a series of guest interviews. They dive into confessions, personal updates, and rediscovering balance in life and work. Damashe admits the Technically Working site still isn’t live, citing exhaustion and carpal tunnel issues. Michael talks about post-cruise laziness and guide dog emergencies. The duo chat about productivity cycles, tech frustrations, health challenges, and how life (and sometimes Siri) doesn’t cooperate. Damashe also shares what it's like traveling for conventions and being recognized by listeners, while Michael recounts his cruise and convention chaos. They wrap with a deep dive into member management tools for WordPress and appreciation for their tip jar supporters.

• 🎙️ Confession time: The website is still not live — and why.
• 🧠 Productivity and burnout: Damashe struggles with energy levels, sleep issues, and navigating burnout.
• 🥩 Barbecue blues: It’s been over a year since Damashe lit his grill — and it’s hitting hard.
• 🚢 Michael’s cruise adventure: Accessibility wins and fails, and yes, he worked on vacation.
• 🐕 Titan’s tooth trouble: Guide dog vet emergencies are expensive.
• 💳 Michael makes Damashe spend money on vacation: Preordering the Zoom PodTrack P4 Next.
• 🌐 Convention updates: ACB Oregon, Washington, and Houston — listener shoutouts included!
• 🛠️ Tool talk: Podcast setups, tech rants, and a detailed debate over Paid Memberships Pro vs MemberPress.
• 📈 Audience growth: Episode numbers are climbing, and listener engagement is strong.
• 🗣️ Shoutouts: New and long-time listeners, tip jar supporters, and significant others — you rock.

• Zoom PodTrack P4 Next
• Paid Memberships Pro (PMP)
• MemberPress
• Gravity Forms
• Stripe
• WordPress local dev tools: Valet, WP Migrate
• Apple Watch sleep tracking
• Costco melatonin
• Farago, Audio Hijack

Drop us a line: feedback@technicallyworking.show

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We continue our conversation with Stephen Scott from Double Tap about why unscripted, human-first shows resonate. Stephen shares how he and Sean decide what’s worth airing, why consent and care with guests matter, and how their new newsletter and “Extra” feed create space for deeper, sometimes non-tech discussions. We dig into person-first identity, balancing the social and medical models of disability, and why nuance and personal responsibility beat one-size-fits-all advocacy.

• Pre-show judgment calls: Hold topics until there’s enough perspective—or a third voice—to do them justice.
• Let conversations breathe: A planned ACB chat became a powerful, unscripted deep-dive on prosthetic eyes.
• Consent & care: Check in with guests when things get personal; offer pre-release review for sensitive segments.
• Newsletter → “Extra”: A site and monthly email for quick catch-up, plus a companion podcast for tougher conversations that don’t quite fit Double Tap’s daily tech focus.
• Boundaries on hot-button topics: Keep the core tech-centric while handling politics/religion with care and context.
• People before labels: Person-first identity, with descriptors used for discovery—not definition.
• Social and medical models: Society should fix barriers (e.g., ramps); individuals can adapt with tools (e.g., reading menus)—both responsibilities matter.
• Advocacy without monoculture: One blind person’s view is just that—avoid pretending a single voice speaks for all.
• Perspective changes everything: From on-train demos to travel that reshapes assumptions; curiosity > echo chambers.
• Algorithms & attention: Feeds nudge extremes; resist by seeking opposing views and valuing nuance.

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This week's episode is part 1 of a multipart recording featuring Steven Scott of Double Tap.
Michael hears voices in his head, Steven and Damashe discuss the aftermath of coping with being in car wrecks, and how Steven got on as a camera man in his youth.

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Michael and Damashe are back with a mix of tech talk, audio experiments, and laughs. Michael tests out two Shure microphones live on air (can you tell which is which?), shares what he learned from running a hybrid event, and rolls out a smart new feature in his automation tool, Builder—because yes, user feedback really does shape updates.

They dive into why investing in your craft (and your gear) pays off, the art of delegation, and how small process fixes make big differences. Damashe also reveals why he’s paying for search with Kagi and what makes the Helium browser worth a look.

Whether you’re a gearhead, builder, or productivity nerd, this one’s for you. 💡 Plus: download numbers are up, vacation plans are brewing, and there’s a reminder that sometimes “no new features” is the best feature of all.

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In this episode, Michael and Damashe dive into a grab bag of experiments, frustrations, and a few eerie surprises in the world of AI and audio.

Topics Covered

• 🎤 Mic Talk & Audio Gear Michael tests the Shure Beta 87A and debates keeping his wireless setup, while the guys swap stories about missing adapters, mic stands, and shock mounts.

• 🤖 AI Voices Gone Rogue Things take a weird turn when one of Michael’s AI voices starts adding its own opinions. The duo tests multiple Google Gemini TTS voices—some sound scarily real, others... develop personalities.

• 🧠 New AI Tools: HUX, Lere, and Apple Intelligence Damashe tries out HUX (an audio summary app from former Google Notebook LM engineers) and runs into some accessibility issues. They also chat about Apple Intelligence in Lere and how AI summarization is creeping into RSS reading.

• 🐍 Python + PySide6 on macOS 26 Michael shares how ChatGPT helped him build a Python GUI to manage Google AI Studio’s TTS system—and the quirks that come with macOS 26 compatibility.

• 💻 macOS 26, Homebrew Fixes, and Remote Screen Sharing Damashe upgrades early to macOS 26.0.1, discovers improved screen sharing, and finds creative ways to connect remotely with Tailscale.

• 🧩 Gravity Forms, Gravity Wiz, and Building Tools the Smart Way From API connectors to booking add-ons, the pair geek out over how Gravity Forms’ ecosystem can (almost) run an entire business website—if you can afford all the plugins.

• 💬 Closing Thoughts & Listener Shoutouts The hosts thank their Tip Jar supporters, remind listeners not to spend money they don’t have (even if it’s tempting), and share a good laugh about accidental listener spending sprees.

Mentioned Tools & Topics

• Shure Beta 87A, SM58, SM7B
• Google Gemini 2.5 Pro TTS
• PySide6 + Keyring for Python
• HUX app (by ex-Google team)
• Lere RSS Reader
• Gravity Forms, Gravity Wiz, Gravity Kit
• macOS 26 screen sharing with Tailscale
• Bedrock Innovations IVR experiment

Episode Summary

From AI voices that argue back to macOS updates that move your Safari tabs, this episode is a mix of practical tinkering and unpredictable AI fun. Whether you're into audio gear, accessibility, or the future of digital voices, TW131 brings laughs, lessons, and a reminder: always double-check what your AI is saying.

Would you like me to add a short promotional blurb (2–3 sentences) for the podcast feed and website too?

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Michael and Damashe dig into real-world audio and workflow upgrades—why Cleanfeed’s aux routing can quietly reset, how the DJI wireless kit performs (32-bit float, monitoring quirks, accessibility gaps), and when handheld SM58s beat Beta 58s for live/hybrid rooms. Damashe talks through pre-ordering the Meta Oakley Vanguard (and why the Seeing AI partnership nudged him), then shares first-hand notes from flashing GrapheneOS on a Pixel—eSpeak’s direct-boot advantage, practical setup caveats, and who this is actually for. Plus: Zoom H6 Studio vs. H6 Essential (hello, physical gain knobs), Windows 10 life support via ZeroPatch, and a simple plan to keep UTM links consistent when you reshare site content.

• Cleanfeed gotcha: Aux output mapping can revert when a guest reconnects—double-check before relying on a backup/stream path.
• DJI Wireless notes: dual TX, on-unit recording, 32-bit float, line-out monitoring; menu accessibility is limited.
• Live sound choice: SM58 handhelds for forgiving pickup and crowd control; add disposable windscreens for shared mics.
• Zoom H6 Studio: larger XY mics, physical gain knobs, 32-bit float or 16/24-bit mode, clearer layout for quick tweaks.
• GrapheneOS on Pixel: open-source, stronger posture; you’ll need sighted help during install; eSpeak enables speech at boot.
• Meta Oakley Vanguard: interest driven by Access API and Seeing AI tie-in—buy for what it does now, not just potential.
• Remote event tip: Always get an off-site listener to sanity-check your mix; in-room monitoring can mislead.
• UTM consistency: Prefer a simple builder (inside WP or a script) so source/medium names stay uniform over time.
• Win10 after EOL: Consider ZeroPatch if you must stay put—but be cautious online regardless.

• 00:00 Cleanfeed aux routing & backup recording
• 04:30 DJI Wireless kit: hardware tour & monitoring
• 17:45 Meta Oakley Vanguard pre-order & Access API musings
• 28:50 Zoom H6 Studio vs. H6 Essential
• 39:05 SM58 wireless set & live-room strategy
• 45:35 Remote sound-check best practices
• 47:00 Double Tap appearance & misc. follow-ups
• 50:00 Windows 10 options (ZeroPatch)
• 54:40 GrapheneOS setup, eSpeak, and security takeaways
• 1:08:15 UTM link-building idea for consistent sharing

Say hi: @damashe@technically.social • Follow updates: @tw@technically.social Feedback: feedback@technicallyworking.show

(Thanks for listening—and extra thanks to Tip Jar supporters for keeping the mics on.)

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This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-431b7d for 40% off for 4 months, and support Technically Working.