Totally Booked with Zibby: Molly Burke, UNSEEN: How I Lost My Vision But Found My Voice

Date: October 20, 2025
Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Molly Burke

Episode Overview

In this episode, Zibby Owens sits down with Molly Burke, blind public speaker, influencer, and author, to discuss her memoir UNSEEN: How I Lost My Vision But Found My Voice. Molly shares her journey from childhood blindness to internet stardom, delves into the challenges faced as a disabled woman, and opens up about deeply personal experiences she has never shared until now. The conversation covers resilience, the power of vulnerability, and the importance of authentic self-expression.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introduction to Molly Burke and Her Book

[03:14]

• Molly describes her diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa at age four, leading to the loss of most of her vision by age 14.
• She recounts the profound grief she experienced:

  "I say it was like trying to grieve the death of yourself while figuring out how to keep living, which is a very profound experience at any age, but particularly at 14 years old." (Molly, 04:08)

• Despite early depression and bullying, she rebuilt her life with support, ultimately feeling propelled to educate society about misconceptions and stereotypes around blindness.

2. The Pressure of Statistics and Limited Opportunity

[04:08 – 07:57]

• Molly internalized the daunting statistic that 80% of blind Canadians are unemployed, making her ambitious for more.
• She described feeling boxed in, given her love for visual fields like makeup and fashion:

  "I happen to be a blind person who most of my passions are, are in visual arts... I know that as much as I love those things, it would be very hard to work as a fully blind person in those visual fields." (Molly, 05:45)

3. The “Corporate Cult” and Challenges in Public Speaking

[07:57 – 13:48]

• Molly details her early career, joining an organization that presented itself as a speaking opportunity but used manipulative tactics.

• She discusses legal precautions taken before writing these stories, seeking to reclaim her narrative while protecting herself and maintaining anonymity for others.

  "I'm not sharing my story to tear them down. I'm sharing my story to take back my power. Because I felt silenced for so long... these stories are important to share." (Molly, 09:07)

• Zibby highlights the shocking conditions Molly endured, the organization's exploitative nature, and Molly’s susceptibility as a young dreamer.

• Molly reflects on her initial thrill at the opportunities, sharing stages with celebrities:

  "I had a full time assistant at 18 years old, I was traveling the world. I was literally rubbing shoulders with like, Demi Lovato and Jennifer Hudson... and all of that is what made me so susceptible to putting up with a lot less than I deserved." (Molly, 11:36)

4. Mental Health: Grief, Depression, and Suicidality

[13:48 – 16:59]

• Zibby reads poignant passages from UNSEEN about Molly’s suicidal ideation.
• Molly addresses the harmful stigma around mental health and suicidal thoughts:

  "I really hate this rhetoric of suicide is selfish because it really demonizes it even more... To then demonize us even further and make us feel even worse isn't helpful." (Molly, 15:53)

• She expresses her intention to give language to the feelings others may experience, fostering understanding.

5. Resilience and the Concept of Duality

[21:47]

• Molly describes resilience as a learned, essential life skill:

  "Resilience is a skill and I think it takes a lot of practice... But the reality is every single time I face new challenges, I know that I have the tools in my toolbox from the previous challenges I faced." (Molly, 21:47)

• She urges listeners to cultivate resilience by intentionally stepping out of their comfort zones and reframing setbacks.

6. Building a Social Media Platform as a Blind Creator

[23:29 – 27:50]

• Molly recounts how, due to lack of accessibility in mainstream media, she turned to social platforms:

  "It was so easy because I found these girls who were all just around the same age as me, talking about beauty and fashion and lifestyle... it was really audio forward and even when they would hold up products they would describe it in detail because the video quality was so poor." (Molly, 23:57)

• She began her own YouTube channel at age 20, finding little existing disability representation.
• Now, Molly is proud of the thriving disability community online:

  "Now I'm so proud to say that the disability community is thriving on social media... changing misconceptions. And it's incredible." (Molly, 27:50)

7. Approach to Content and Vulnerability

[28:35]

• Molly sees her content as multifaceted self-expression, spanning lifestyle, advocacy, and honest depictions of both joy and hardship.
• She criticizes the polished, perfect influencer aesthetic and stresses her commitment to vulnerability:

  "I made a commitment to myself when I started 11 years ago that I was going to show the full spectrum of my life, not just the good, because that doesn't do anybody any justice." (Molly, 28:35)

• She underscores that duality—the bittersweetness of life—is central to her message and content.

8. Book Launch Anxiety and Authentic Authorship

[30:28 – 33:56]

• Molly candidly admits her fears about releasing UNSEEN:

  "Releasing a book is terrifying... I'm not a writer. And I've never written a book in full like this before. And it was a really difficult journey." (Molly, 30:28)

• She reveals the challenge in editing deeply personal stories and removing content for legal reasons, while ensuring her voice and truth remain intact.
• Above all, she hopes the book’s honesty will comfort others who feel shame or pain:

  "This book is not written in a way that's just supposed to make me look perfect. It's written in a way to share that I'm human, and that means that I'm not always perfect and that I do make mistakes and bad decisions..." (Molly, 33:09)

Notable Quotes

• On Grieving Her Former Self:

  "Grieving the death of yourself while trying to figure out how to keep living is a profound experience." (Molly, 04:08)

• On the Stigma of Suicide:

  "I really hate this rhetoric of suicide is selfish because it really demonizes it even more." (Molly, 15:53)

• On Social Media’s Accessibility:

  "Social media, the only gatekeeper is the viewer, the general public. They either resonate with you or they don't." (Molly, 23:57)

• On Facing Setbacks:

  "Don't see obstacles as setbacks. See them as setups. They're helping you prepare to bound you to the next step in your life." (Molly, 21:47)

• On Content Creation:

  "I was going to show the full spectrum of my life, not just the good, because that doesn't do anybody any justice." (Molly, 28:35)

Memorable Moments

• Molly’s guide dog, sensing his “role call” when Zibby mentions him. (03:54)
• Molly's childhood film reel predicting her future in Hollywood, reflecting unwavering ambition despite early hardships. (11:36)
• Zibby reading raw, difficult passages from the memoir, and expressing deep empathy for Molly’s journey. (13:48 – 16:59)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Background and Why the Book: 04:08
• Job and “Corporate Cult”: 09:07
• Stage Success and Fallout: 11:36
• Mental Health & Suicidality: 13:48
• Resilience and Duality: 21:47
• Building Social Media Presence: 23:57
• Content/Vulnerability Philosophy: 28:35
• Book Release Fears & Authenticity: 30:28, 33:09

Conclusion

Molly Burke’s interview with Zibby Owens is an honest, uplifting, and insightful conversation about overcoming adversity, reclaiming one’s story, and the ongoing challenge to be seen and understood. Her memoir, UNSEEN, promises candid reflections on belonging, ambition, and carving out space where others see only limitation. Molly’s blend of vulnerability and joy, combined with practical wisdom on resilience, makes this episode inspiring for anyone, disabled or not, who seeks courage to tell their own story.