In this powerful episode, we're joined by Kevin Lowe, an inspirational speaker and podcast host who shares his remarkable journey of losing his sight at 17 and discovering an entirely new way to "see" the world.

Through launching his own travel agency, creating a podcast during the pandemic, learning how to 'see' through sound and now inspiring others through speaking, Kevin exemplifies resilience in its purest form. His personal equation—"faith plus family equals a life worth living"—reminds us all to identify what gives our lives meaning, especially during our darkest moments.

Kevin's story isn't just about overcoming blindness—it's about transforming limitation into possibility and finding purpose in pain. As he puts it, "Through the vulnerability of the brain that I became blind, but it's also through the power of the brain that I learned to see again."

Follow Kevin's journey on his podcast "Grit, Grace and Inspiration" or learn more about his speaking at kevinspeaks.org.

If this episode hit you in the heart and you're ready to turn your own adversity into strength, I want to personally help you. Book a free 30-minute coaching consult call with me (yes, WITH ME—not some team member).

Visit my website here to submit for a coaching call with me!

CLICK HERE to ORDER my book "Okay. Now What?" - How to Be Resilient When Life Gets Tough.

Want to download a free chapter of my book to give it a read first? CLICK HERE.

To hire me to speak at your organization or next event, visit https://www.kategladdin.com/

Introduction to the Episode (00:00:00) Kate Gladdin welcomes listeners and introduces the theme of personal resilience.

Introducing Kevin Lowe (00:01:06) Kate introduces Kevin Lowe, discussing his background as an inspirational speaker and blind visionary.

Kevin's Journey Begins (00:02:00) Kevin shares the timeline of his blindness, marking 21 years without sight.

The Diagnosis (00:02:43) Kevin recounts his life in 2003 and the medical issues leading to his brain tumor diagnosis.

The Tumor Discovery (00:05:04) Kevin describes the shocking moment his mother received the news about his brain tumor.

The Severity of the Condition (00:07:07) Discussion of the tumor's impact and the urgency for surgical intervention.

The Surgery Announcement (00:10:05) Kevin recalls the reassurance from his neurosurgeon about the surgery and recovery expectations.

Surgery Day (00:12:46) Kevin reflects on the day of his surgery and the changes it would bring.

Waking Up Blind (00:14:17) Kevin describes the moment he realized he was completely blind after surgery.

The Aftermath of Surgery (00:15:06) Discussion of the complications and challenges Kevin faced post-surgery.

The Realization of Blindness (00:16:49) Kevin shares his emotional struggle and repeated realization of his blindness.

Learning to 'See' Again (00:18:34) Kevin discusses discovering echolocation as a method to navigate the world as a blind person.

Training in Echolocation (00:19:15) Kevin explains his training experience with Brian Bucci to learn echolocation techniques.

The Process of Retraining the Brain (00:22:39) Kevin highlights the neuroplasticity of the brain and how it can adapt to new ways of perceiving the environment.

Here are the extracted timestamps and their titles from the podcast episode transcription segment:

Kevin's Life-Changing Moment (00:22:57) Kevin describes a pivotal moment where he learns to use echolocation to navigate his environment.

The Power of the Brain (00:25:25) Discussion on how Kevin's brain adapts, allowing him to perceive shapes and figures through sound.

Mainstream Techniques for Vision Problems (00:26:50) Kevin reflects on the acceptance of echolocation training in organizations for the blind.

Navigating the World with Confidence (00:28:21) Kevin shares how echolocation enhances his ability to navigate confidently in public spaces.

Heightened Senses After Losing Sight (00:29:00) Kevin confirms that losing sight has heightened his other senses, especially hearing.

Resilience and Adaptability (00:30:08) Kate emphasizes the resilience of the human body and the ability to overcome challenges.

The Role of Choice in Overcoming Challenges (00:30:57) Discussion on how Kevin's choices and efforts contributed to his journey of adaptation.

Starting a Travel Agency (00:31:27) Kevin shares how he transitioned from blindness to running his own travel agency.

Building a Brand and Purpose (00:35:40) Kevin discusses the purpose and fulfillment he found in running his travel agency.

Career Transition During the Pandemic (00:36:48) Kevin reflects on how the pandemic forced him to pivot in his career.

Using Experiences to Inspire Others (00:37:16) Kevin talks about his current purpose of inspiring others through his experiences.

Starting a Podcast (00:38:37) Kevin shares how he began his podcast as a way to connect and inspire during quarantine.

Motto for Overcoming Hard Days (00:41:26) Kevin reveals his personal motto that helped him through dark times: faith plus family equals a life worth living.

Promoting Kevin's Podcast (00:44:13) Kevin shares information about his podcast, "Grit Grace and Inspiration," and invites listeners to join his email list.

Kevin's Speaking Engagements (00:45:03) Kevin discusses his speaking services, encouraging organizations to consider him for their events.

Anniversary Dinner Tradition (00:45:18) Kate asks Kevin about his tradition of dining at Outback Steakhouse on the anniversary of his blindness.

Connection to Outback Steakhouse (00:46:10) Kevin explains the humorous connection to Outback Steakhouse and why it holds significance for him.

Celebrating Life After Surgery (00:47:17) Kevin shares how the anniversary dinner symbolizes a celebration of life, not the loss of his sight.

Reflecting on Emotions (00:47:34) Kevin discusses the emotional complexity of anniversaries and how they bring back memories.

Cultural Humor (00:48:00) Kate and Kevin joke about Outback's portrayal of Australian culture and their own experiences with food.

Full Circle Moment (00:48:29) Kate reflects on the journey and how Kevin's story connects back to the podcast's themes of resilience.

Coaching Offer (00:49:14) Kate promotes her one-on-one personalized life coaching services for women seeking to regain control of their lives.