Podcast
Blind Magic in Alice Springs
Hosted by bridgeovermurray · EN
Blind Magic, experience the power of the things you cannot see!
48episodes
Episodes
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Episode 1534 : Celebrating Vision-Impaired Brilliance
Yesterday00:18:10Tap to summarizeEpisode 1534 of Blind Magic Communications is hosted by Murray Stewart from Alice Springs. In this episode Murray celebrates the extraordinary talents of vision-impaired and disabled people, imagining a major "Blind Magic" concert that would bring together brilliant artists who are vision-impaired. He highlights legendary musicians — Ray Charles, Andrea Bocelli, José Feliciano, Stevie Wonder — and recalls the unforgettable Aboriginal singer Gurumu, using their artistry to illustrate the depth and range of talent among vision-impaired performers. Murray also draws attention to the contribution of vision-impaired voices in broadcasting, naming notable radio personalities such as Matt Ponsonby and Grantley Dee, and reflects on how society often overlooks ability in favor of appearance. He explores the idea that disabilities can bring strengths — heightened tactile, verbal and musical skills — and urges listeners to value people for their abilities and character rather than superficial traits. The episode includes a personal and moving anecdote from Murray’s school days about a boy who had a seizure during assembly and the reaction of his peers. That memory informs Murray’s current approach to living with and managing epilepsy: he prepares carefully to minimize public seizures, not out of shame but to avoid being judged unfairly. Murray challenges listeners to reconsider how they perceive and respond to people with visible or invisible disabilities. Key themes: celebrating musical and broadcasting talent among the vision-impaired; imagining inclusive events like a Blind Magic concert; confronting social prejudice; valuing character over appearance; and the host’s candid reflections on epilepsy, resilience and empathy. Expect an episode that’s part celebration, part social commentary, and deeply personal — an invitation to think differently about ability, friendship and human decency.
Transcribe →Episode 1533 Trump at 80: An Australian Tribute from Alice Springs
Yesterday00:08:31Tap to summarizeIn episode 1533, host Murray Stewart delivers an impassioned, personal monologue from Alice Springs titled "Blind Magic in Alice Springs." Murray opens the episode by addressing listeners candidly, warning some might tune out — and saying he doesn’t mind. At the core of the episode is Murray’s admiration for Donald Trump as he approaches his 80th birthday. Murray argues that, regardless of political views, people should respect Trump’s energy, leadership, and ability to handle immense responsibilities at an advanced age. He praises Trump’s health, accomplishments, and impact on border security, public safety, and the economy, and frames him as a role model for seniors. The episode also celebrates the longstanding Australian-American connection in Central Australia. Murray recounts the history and importance of the Australian American Defence Facility near Alice Springs, recalling personal experiences with American personnel and their community contributions. He emphasizes how the base has strengthened regional security and brought volunteers who helped his work on the Alice Springs Town Council. To close the episode, Murray sings an unrehearsed, heartfelt birthday song dedicated to President Trump — a spontaneous, emotional tribute meant to honor the man who inspires him. Expect candid opinions, local anecdotes about Alice Springs and the defense facility, and a warm, personal tone throughout this short but forceful episode.
Transcribe →Episode 1532 The Power of Voice and Touch
2d ago00:16:54Tap to summarizeEpisode 1532 of Blind Magic in Alice Springs, hosted by Murray Stewart, explores the surprising emotional power of voice and touch and how those qualities shape attraction, connection and healing. Murray opens the episode speaking about music, singing and how vocal expression relaxes and centers him, then pivots to a personal reflection on why he finds vision-impaired people uniquely appealing — not because they are superior, but because frequent use of verbal and tactile skills develops them in powerful ways. The episode includes candid personal stories and examples: Murray describes how compliments about a woman’s voice, movement or scent can be more meaningful than visual praise, recalls hiring Heather (his senior support worker and the episode’s producer) because of her love of singing, and tells the anecdote about his third wife—how the sound and flow of her movements first attracted him before he even saw her. Heather is present in the studio and acknowledged as a close collaborator. Murray also talks about his tactile gift, how he uses his hands to comfort and help others while observing professional boundaries, and how listeners might have underused skills that could spread love or attract others. He reflects on contentment in his current life (including his puppy), his openness to a future partner with strong verbal and tactile abilities, and the importance of noticing non‑visual qualities in people. Key points: the spoken word and touch are powerful channels for connection; people with vision impairment often develop strong verbal/tactile skills through practice; compliments that focus on voice, movement or scent can be unexpectedly impactful; and everyone may have underused abilities that transmit love. The episode closes with Murray’s invitation to listeners to pay attention to these subtler senses and to use their gifts to enrich relationships. This episode is a Blind Magic Communications production.
Transcribe →Episode 1531 Alice Springs Rising: From Crisis to Comeback (Episode 1531)
3d ago00:11:45Tap to summarizeIn Episode 1531 of Blind Magic, the host — also president of the Alice Springs Ratepayers Association — delivers a passionate call to action for the town he loves. He outlines Alice Springs’ vital role as the service hub for some 200 outlying communities, argues it could be the capital of Outback Australia, and cites public figures such as Dick Smith praising the town’s place in the nation. The episode does not shy away from the challenges currently facing Alice Springs: a recent wave of crime, negative media attention, falling visitor numbers, businesses closing and a loss of volunteers for community events. The host reflects on how those problems have left the town on its knees and highlights the need to change the narrative and rebuild confidence. At the heart of the episode is a proactive response: a Ratepayers Association meeting — a lunch/coffee session with volunteers and locals — designed to generate creative solutions. The presenter explains his aim to be part of the solution, to encourage open-minded brainstorming ("no such thing as a bad idea"), and to help the community distill ideas into one or more initiatives that can act as magnets to bring people back to Alice Springs. Illustrating how small ideas can grow into world-changing innovations, the host references familiar origin stories (from the Apple garage to everyday inventions) and uses those examples to inspire locals to be bold. He also points to local assets — notably the beauty of Traeger Park, praised during a recent AFL game — as opportunities to leverage tourism and events for economic recovery. This episode is a mix of frank assessment and determined optimism: a local leader convening neighbours to take control of their destiny, protect the town’s future, and spark ideas that could revive business, culture and community life. Listeners can expect a candid, idea-driven conversation about resilience, civic responsibility and the practical steps a community can take to rebuild. This has been Episode 1531, a Blind Magic Communications production.
Transcribe →Episode1530 Why Resilience Beats Looks
4d ago00:12:05Tap to summarizeEpisode 1530 — Blind Magic in Alice Springs. Host Murray Stewart delivers a solo, candid monologue about everyday discrimination, dating preferences, and what truly matters in a partner. Speaking from personal experience and reflection, Murray explores how we all discriminate in small ways, why those choices can be protective, and how assumptions about ability and strength shape relationships. Topics covered include examples of daily discrimination (from choosing a car to picking a radio), the speaker's controversial preference against able-bodied women, the argument that people with disabilities often develop greater resilience, and the importance of emotional strength, loyalty, and reliability over physical attributes. Murray also references his own vision impairment and the limits it imposes while arguing for equal opportunity so different qualities can flourish. Key points: discrimination is a common human behavior but must be balanced with equal opportunity; resilience and emotional strength are critical qualities in a life partner; physical capability does not determine worth or reliability; owning one's opinions and encouraging listeners to reflect on their own biases. This is a reflective, thought-provoking episode intended to spark conversation rather than provide easy answers. Format and guests: solo episode with Murray Stewart (no external guests). Produced by Blind Magic Communications. Expect a frank, personal, and occasionally provocative take on relationships, disability, and what it means to be dependable when life gets difficult.
Transcribe →Episode 1529 Say Hello: Finding Friendship in Unexpected Places
5d ago00:11:15Tap to summarizeEpisode 1529 of Blind Magic in Alice Springs: host Murray Stewart speaks with his daughter, who lives with Down syndrome, about the beauty, strengths and humanity of people with disabilities. Murray reflects on a disturbing statistic — people with autism are three times more likely to be homeless — and uses it as a springboard to ask why society accepts such outcomes and what each of us can do to change them. The conversation covers the unique qualities many people with disabilities bring to relationships: resilience, lived wisdom, heightened awareness and deep loyalty. Murray shares personal examples from his life as a vision-impaired person — how he listens to voice inflection and footsteps to read people — and explains how those qualities can enrich friendships and community life. Practical encouragement and calls to action run through the episode: the power of a simple hello, respecting personal boundaries while reaching out, staying connected with old friends, and using modern technology to care for those we can. Murray also recounts how friends supported him during a medical crisis in 2022, illustrating the mutual importance of connection and compassion. Listeners can expect an intimate, heartfelt episode blending personal stories, social commentary and gentle tips for building a kinder, more inclusive world — one hello at a time.
Transcribe →Episode 1528 — Championing Athletes, Crowds & Courtesy
1w ago00:08:36Tap to summarizeEpisode 1528 of Blind Magic in Alice Springs is hosted by Murray Stewart, the world’s only blind and epileptic athletics coach. Drawing on three decades as an athlete and his coaching experience, Murray opens the episode with a candid account of a recent night at the track where thoughtless behaviour — people running across the track and poor team coordination — disrupted an athlete’s attempt to perform at championship level. He shares his frustration, his preparation routine, and the importance of a smooth support program for athletes. The conversation then pivots to a news item about Russell Crowe being mobbed outside his Paris hotel by autograph seekers, including professional autograph hunters who trade signed memorabilia online. Murray reflects on Crowe’s measured response, the pressures celebrities face (including the reported disruptions around the Highlander remake in Scotland), and why understanding what someone else is experiencing matters before you judge them. Murray also pays tribute to great voices he admires — naming Russell Crowe alongside the late John Laws and Leonard Teale — and reflects on the legacy of those who came before. Throughout, the episode’s central theme is empathy: putting yourself in another person’s position, whether an athlete, a celebrity, or a neighbour affected by a film shoot. There are no external guests on this episode; it’s a personal, reflective solo show from Murray Stewart that mixes sports coaching insights, real-life frustrations, pop-culture commentary, and a clear takeaway about respect and perspective. This episode is produced by Blind Magic Communications.
Transcribe →Episode 1527 Time for Solutions (Ep. 1527)
1w ago00:16:56Tap to summarizeEpisode 1527: Blind Magic in Alice Springs — Murray Stewart hosts a passionate call-to-action about ideas, solutions and the future of his town. Murray opens with a broad theme: there are no bad ideas and small, daring solutions can grow into world-changing movements. He urges listeners not to keep their ideas hidden but to share them boldly. The episode focuses on local civic engagement through the Alice Springs Ratepayers Association. Murray explains why holding the mayor and council accountable matters, but stresses he prefers collaboration over constant conflict. He revisits past town initiatives — including a community conference that originally sparked an idea for an Aboriginal art gallery — to illustrate how positive intent and less politics could revive projects that benefit the town. Through vivid anecdotes and metaphors — from the surprising invention stories behind tea and cigarettes to the Apple garage origin — Murray underscores creativity and persistence. He shares personal examples of how direct action led to real change: a public incident that contributed to Northern Territory self-defence law changes, reforms to Victoria’s Hospital and Charities Act, and pioneering steps to integrate blind students into mainstream education. This episode is both motivational and practical. Murray invites listeners of all ages, especially those 60-plus with deep experience and wisdom, to step forward with ideas and solutions. He outlines concrete ways to get involved — talkback radio, meetings with politicians, letters — and urges unity, positivity and active contribution so Alice Springs can regain its reputation as a great, thriving town. No external guests are featured; the episode centers on Murray’s reflections, local history and a rallying challenge to the community to think creatively and act together. This has been a Blind Magic Communications production.
Transcribe →Episode 1526 When the Mic Fails and Voices Rise
1w ago00:11:42Tap to summarizeMorning from Central Australia, Alice Springs — Episode 1526 of Blind Magic in Alice Springs with your host Murray Stewart. In this instalment Murray reflects on a chaotic Alice Springs Town Council meeting that descended into a farce after microphone problems exposed a wider decline in peoples verbal projection and preparedness. Murray unpacks why strong verbal communication still matters in a world dominated by screens, sharing a string of personal anecdotes — from his own time on council to a recent McDonalds run where a young athlete missed out because he couldnt be heard. Murray speaks from experience and stresses the practical consequences of weak vocal delivery in everyday life. The episode also offers heartfelt personal insight on relationships. Drawing on his own experience of three marriages, Murray presents his signature advice: "water the garden." He explains the metaphor in detail — showing tactile affection, staying interested in your partner's hobbies, and not taking one another for granted — and argues that these small gestures keep a marriage growing and resilient. Practical next steps are proposed: Murray will offer Blind Magic Communications voice-projection training to local councillors (and anyone else interested) and describes how a half-hour of coaching can save time, money and misunderstandings. The episode blends wry local observation, life lessons, and a clear call to improve spoken communication skills. Guests and contributors: host Murray Stewart with appearances by his support worker Heather. Key points to expect: a comic yet pointed town-council anecdote, why vocal projection matters, marriage advice framed as "watering the garden," a McDonalds anecdote illustrating the problem, and an offer of voice-training through Blind Magic Communications. Produced by Blind Magic Communications. Tune in for practical advice, frank personal stories, and a reminder to let your voice reign supreme.
Transcribe →Episode 1525 Love Yourself First — Murray Stewart’s Guide to Happiness (Episode 1525)
1w ago00:06:41Tap to summarizeEpisode 1525 of Blind Magic Communications features host Murray Stewart broadcasting from Alice Springs with a short, powerful solo episode about two life-changing forms of advice: emotional self-love and financial freedom. Murray opens the show by urging listeners to make themselves their first priority — to love and be comfortable in their own skin — and explains how that inner strength creates healthier, more enduring relationships. The episode then shifts to practical financial counsel: prioritise paying off your home loan as quickly as possible. Murray explains why eliminating mortgage debt provides real freedom, reduces stress, and delivers a deep sense of achievement. He shares a personal anecdote from 2023 about the euphoria of paying out his loan, collecting the title at the registry office, and the relief of no longer being tied to the bank. No guest interviews — this is a solo-host episode focused on straightforward, actionable advice. Key takeaways include: put yourself first emotionally to build stronger relationships; make mortgage repayment a financial priority to gain independence; and combine emotional and financial health as a pathway to a happier life. Listeners can expect warm, candid commentary, practical tips, and a brief, uplifting close from Murray Stewart.
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