Volunteer Spotlight

Bare Bulbs and Breaking News with Tom McMillen and the Colorado Sun

Aftersight — Fri, 22 May 2026 11:06:10 -0600

Volunteer Spotlight returns with a new twist as Evan Starnes and Jennifer Neptune shine the spotlight not only on a volunteer reader, but also on one of Aftersight’s publication partners: the Colorado Sun. Joined by longtime volunteer Tom “TMac” McMillen, the conversation explores the value of in-depth local journalism, the growing importance of accessible news, and why the human voice still matters in an age of AI-generated audio.
Tom shares his experience reading the Tuesday Colorado Sun for Aftersight, the kinds of stories that spark conversation long after recording ends, and how thoughtful journalism covering everything from Colorado politics and water issues to arts, culture, and rural communities helps listeners stay informed and connected. The group also discusses Aftersight’s evolving partnerships with publications, the future of audio accessibility, and the subtle but important differences between AI narration and a real human reader bringing personality, emphasis, and emotion to the page.
Along the way, there’s plenty of humor, behind-the-scenes discussion about Aftersight’s transition into modern podcast distribution, and even a few debates about what Volunteer Spotlight should eventually be renamed.

Jim Steckman: “The Impact You Can Have Is Tremendous”

Aftersight — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:52:32 -0700

In this heartfelt and engaging episode of Volunteer Spotlight, host Evan Starnes kicks off the new year by introducing an exciting new chapter for the show: Jennifer Neptune, Aftersight’s Volunteer and Publications Manager, officially joins as permanent co-host.
The spotlight shines on December’s Volunteer of the Month, Jim Stechman, whose audiobook-quality narrations have elevated Aftersight’s programming, including Blind History Lady, The Getting There Guide, and the Dr. MAC (Mobility Access Council) Newsletter. Jim shares his long history of reading for blind and low vision communities, from early tape-based recordings for rural Colorado to his current work with multiple reading services.
The conversation explores:
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Jim’s journey into volunteer voice work and why storytelling matters
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The impact of accessible information in rural communities
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How Aftersight bridges gaps in transportation, news, and local resources
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Jim’s eclectic taste in music, from Wagner to Slayer
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A deep dive into his home recording setup and audio production background
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Aftersight’s transition to new recording and hosting platforms, including Riverside and Transistor
Jim also reflects on living in Australia and New Zealand, comparing accessibility, infrastructure, and culture, while Jennifer and Evan reinforce Aftersight’s mission to expand content reach and recruit more volunteer readers.
The episode closes with a powerful call to action for listeners to get involved, share the podcast, and help grow Aftersight’s impact across Colorado and beyond.

(00:00) - – Welcome to Volunteer Spotlight
(01:40) - – Introducing Volunteer of the Month: Jim Stechman
(02:18) - – Jim’s volunteer history and discovering Aftersight
(05:45) - – Favorite content to read and the impact of the Dr. MAC Newsletter
(07:24) - – Voiceover growth and storytelling skills
(09:00) - – Volunteer recognition and versatility
(10:30) - – Home recording setup and audio gear talk
(12:40) - – Riverside and Transistor platform discussion
(14:00) - – Jim’s music tastes and personal connection to vision loss
(15:50) - – Rural access and Aftersight’s community mission
(19:30) - – Encouraging new volunteers to join
(20:45) - – Living in Australia and New Zealand
(24:50) - – How much content Aftersight produces weekly
(27:30) - – Final thoughts and volunteer appreciation
(30:40) - – Next episode preview and sign-off

00:00 – Welcome to Volunteer Spotlight
00:12 – New Year kickoff and Jennifer Neptune joins as co-host
01:40 – Introducing Volunteer of the Month: Jim Stechman
02:18 – Jim’s volunteer history and discovering Aftersight
05:45 – Favorite content to read and the impact of the Dr. MAC Newsletter
07:24 – Voiceover growth and storytelling skills
09:00 – Volunteer recognition and versatility
10:30 – Home recording setup and audio gear talk
12:40 – Riverside and Transistor platform discussion
14:00 – Jim’s music tastes and personal connection to vision loss
15:50 – Rural access and Aftersight’s community mission
19:30 – Encouraging new volunteers to join
20:45 – Living in Australia and New Zealand
24:50 – How much content Aftersight produces weekly
27:30 – Final thoughts and volunteer appreciation
30:40 – Next episode preview an

Bob Nettleton

Aftersight — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:44:08 -0700

Phillip Bradbury

Aftersight — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 15:50:10 -0600

On this longer than typical episode of VLS, we have a rabit hole filled discussion with Phillip Bradbury, reader of the MileHigh Sports Magazine, amongst lots of other readings. We talk about the transition from in-person to remote reading, share some hart felt stories about Kat Bradbury, the former volunteer manager who has since past on, and go down plenty of rabit holes about music, radio, and how it ultimately lead to Phillip's involvement with Aftersight.

Kevin Martindale

Aftersight — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:06:11 -0600

Linda Chambers: Music is a Universal Language

Aftersight — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:56:57 -0600

This month, we talk with Linda Chambers, the volunteer of the month for June. Linda Chambers has a rich background as a general music teacher for 35 years and enjoys reading for the Grand Junction Sentinel. Linda's passion for music includes playing various instruments including Ukulele, and she has a strong belief in the universal language of music to connect people across cultures.

Thom Mcmillen

Aftersight — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:32:38 -0600

In this episode of the Volunteer Spotlight, host Evan Starnes welcomes Tom McMillen, the Volunteer of the Month for May. They discuss Tom's journey into volunteering, his role in the Steely Dan tribute band My Old School, and we get to hear a fun test recording Thom made when we were troubleshooting his microphone.

Melissa Bonnette

Aftersight — Thu, 01 May 2025 11:47:44 -0600

In this episode of the Volunteer Spotlight, host Evan Starnes welcomes Melissa Bonnette, the Volunteer of the Month for March, to discuss her extensive journey with AfterSight, the evolution of audio reading, and the importance of community feedback. They explore Melissa's personal experiences, her recording setup, and the impact of volunteering on both the volunteers and the community.

Jason Koncsol

Aftersight — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 17:01:03 -0700

In this episode of Volunteer Spotlight, host Evan Starnes interviews Jason Consol, the volunteer of the month for December. They discuss Jason's journey into audio narration, his love for model railroading, and the challenges he faced when starting out. The conversation also touches on Jason's audio setup, including his equipment choices and techniques for improving his reading skills. The episode is filled with personal anecdotes, insights into the world of audio narration, and a festive holiday spirit, yes we recorded this in December.

Gregory Haddock: The Power of Community Voice

Aftersight — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:04:02 -0700

this month, we welcome Gregory Haddock under the spotlight. Greg shares his journey into community service and his passion for audio content and especially audio gear, we discuss the importance of local news, the skills gained through volunteering, and the importance of finding your voice. Gregory also shares insights into his professional audio work and the mission-driven projects he is involved in, including his media agency Jubilaria which helps new aspiring entrepreneurs and community activists find their voice. Learn more at jubilaria.com Don't forget to donate for Colorado Gives Day on December 10th at coloradogivesday.org/organisations/aftersight

Ken Beck: Finding the Joy in Audio

Aftersight — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 12:32:09 -0600

In this episode of Volunteer Spotlight, host Evan Starnes interviews Ken Beck, a dedicated volunteer with AfterSight. They discuss Ken's inspirations, his passion for audio and music, his hobbies, and his journey into volunteering. Ken shares his experiences with audio recording, the challenges he faced, and the importance of preparation and technique in delivering quality audio content. The conversation also touches on Ken's audio gear setup and his love for classical music and silversmithing. In this conversation, Ken Beck shares his journey into voiceover work, discussing his audio setup, the DIY sound booth he created, and the unique experiences he's had in the field. He emphasizes the importance of community and connection through voiceover boot camps and encourages aspiring volunteers to find joy in their work, regardless of their equipment or skill level.
Chapters
00:00Introduction and Volunteer Spotlight 03:05Inspiration and Influences 05:58Passions for Audio and Music 09:00Hobbies and Personal Interests 11:55Journey into Volunteering 14:53First Experiences in Audio Recording 17:58Preparation for Recording Sessions 21:03Audio Gear and Setup 23:05Exploring Audio Interfaces and Recording Equipment 26:38Building a DIY Sound Booth 29:50Unique Recording Setups and Experiences 37:43Encouragement for Aspiring Volunteers

Sofia Niemeyer: dogs make the world go round

Aftersight — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 15:23:47 -0600

In this episode of the Volunteer Spotlight, host Evan Starnes interviews Sophia Niemeyer, the volunteer of the month for August. Sophia shares her experience as a volunteer reader for the Pike's Peak Courier and discusses her involvement with Guide Dogs for the Blind. She also talks about her favorite places to visit in Colorado and offers words of wisdom for listeners and volunteers alike.

Mary Carley: reading with enthusiasm

Aftersight — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 17:47:47 -0600

Mary Carly, a long-time volunteer at AfterSight, shares her experience and insights in this episode of the Volunteer Spotlight. Mary has been volunteering for 23 years and currently reads the Colorado Springs Gazette for the listeners. She talks about her favorite part of volunteering, the recognition and appreciation she receives, and the satisfaction of knowing that her efforts benefit others. Mary also discusses the changes in the recording stile and the ongoing research to enhance Aftersight's programming. She provides feedback on the importance of variability in recording length and the focus on local news. Mary encourages anyone interested in volunteering to have a good speaking voice and to speak with enthusiasm to engage the listeners.

Lori Hendrickson: The Power to Volunteer

Aftersight — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 17:00:43 -0600

Congratulations to Lori Hendrickson for being selected as Volunteer of the Month for July. Lori began at Aftersight back in 2015, which means she is about to hit ten years with Aftersight. After retiring from teaching kindergarten, Lori was looking for ways to give back to her community, and she discovered Aftersight in the local newspaper. Lori has been reading the Grand Junction Sentinel ever since, and she has a lot of compassion for local communities, and ensuring that they have equal access to information.

Bryce Johnston: Painting the Picture through audio

Aftersight — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Congradulations to Bryce for becoming the volunteer of the month for June. Brice has always been active in the comunity, from working at supe kitchens as a child, to working at an NPR station in college, and eventually volunteering for Aftersight. This epasode is packed full of stories and advice, so grab your favorite cold beveradge and enjoy.

Ralph Towers: rabbit holes Galore

Aftersight — Mon, 13 May 2024 13:37:28 -0600

This month on VSL, Evan interviews Ralph Towers, Aftersights may volunteer of the month. Ralph started with aftersight around sevin years ago, reading the Grand Junction Sentenal. In this epasode, you'll get a glimps into not only Ralph's volunteer experience, but also some of his passed endeavors, like working as a voice tallent for a student radio station.

Claudia Murphy: stepping out of your comfort zone

Aftersight — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 16:43:50 -0600

Aftersight is proud to nominate Claudia Murphy as the volunteer of the month for April. Claudia began as a volunteer seven years ago, but she has been a verry active volunteer in her community since moving to the United States over 20 years ago. Claudia joined Aftersight as part of a new year’s resolution to do something out of her comfort zone, and she has been an integral part of our Spanish programming ever since.

Geri Gingras: I recorded from bed

Aftersight — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 14:37:19 -0700

This month, we have the pleasure of speaking with Geri Gingras, who just reached her five-year anniversary at Aftersight. Geri began her volunteer work at an organization formally known as Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic, which later became Learning Ally, which is similar to Aftersight, but primarily handles the reading and transcription of college textbooks. When Learning Ally closed most of their in-person offices, Geri began looking for other reading opportunities, and found the Colorado Talking Book Library, and eventually Aftersight.

Keith Gawlick: amateur radio operator and opera enthusiast

Aftersight — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 10:26:01 -0700

This month, host Evan Starnes interviews Keith Gawlick, who has been a volunteer reader since 1999. During this episode, we talk about how Keith got started with the Greely Tribune, how he moved on to Hobby Radio and Opera News, and the significance behind the two shows. There is quite a lot of information on opera music and amateur radio packed into this episode; so grab your favorite hot beverage, and enjoy the show.

Bill Lundgren: kissing the Blarney Stone

Aftersight — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:05:44 -0700

We're back at it this month with Bill Lundgren, a licensed psychotherapist and the host of Blindsight. In this episode, Evan and Bill touch briefly on Bill's journey into vision loss, how he became a licensed psychotherapist and started his own practice, and how it eventually led to him becoming the host of the Aftersight original, Blindsight. We also briefly touch on the significance of the Blarney Stone and Bill's experience kissing the stone. Bill is totally blind and was previously on The Blind Chick, formerly Aftersight; you can go back to episode 10 for Bill's entire story about his journey into vision loss."

Thom Anglewicz: Constently Learning

Aftersight — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 01:24:00 -0700

Happy holidays from all of us at AINC, soon to be Aftersight. This month, we have the pleasure of talking with Tom Anglewicz, a retired architect. Tom started as a volunteer in 2014, but that's only part of the story. Tom joined our relocation committee to share his architectural expertise and make sure we find a place that fits our needs; his contributions have been tremendous! In his free time, Tom enjoys walking his dog and taking care of his bonsai trees.

Ginger Hedrick: hiking, reading, and chamber music

Aftersight — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 16:24:12 -0700

This month, we have the pleasure of talking with Ginger Hedrick. Ginger started as an in-person reader, but eventually, she and her family moved to West Virginia, where Ginger has continued as a remote reader ever since. Ginger is a musician; the flute is her instrument of choice, and she has played for several orchestras. Besides playing the flute, Ginger is also an avid hiker and reader. She finds volunteering for AINC very fulfilling and is honored to be the November Volunteer of the Month.

Nicola Fordwood: Channel your Inner Child

Aftersight — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 17:29:08 -0600

This month, we chat with Nicola Fordwood, a talented voice actress hailing from sunny California. Nicola's journey from leaving her corporate job to discovering her passion for voice acting is just a small part of the story. Plus, we're thrilled to showcase a snippet of her impressive demo reel in our intro.

Philip Nielsen: Avid Reader and Tropical Fish Keeper

Aftersight — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0600

This month on VSL, we talk with Philip Nielsen, who started volunteering remotely during the pandemic. We explore Philip's multifaceted life journey. From recording training voiceovers for his former employer, to his adventurous cycling expeditions, passion for tropical fish, and love for reading, both fiction and non-fiction, Philip's story is a captivating blend of diverse interests and experiences.

Bill and Anita Head: bringing new friendships to life through Audio Trecking

Aftersight — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 10:48:46 -0600

"AINC is ramping up for our Bringing Print to Life hike on August 12th, and so are the two guests on this month's episode. This month, we talk with Bill and Anita Head, two amazing volunteers who started during August 2020. Bill and Anita have been a part of a number of AINC events, including our socials and Audio Trekkers hikes."

John and Angie Flyn: Avid Hikers and Awesome Readers

Aftersight — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 17:17:12 -0600

This month on the Volunteer Spotlight, we are treated to a special double interview featuring John and Angie Flynn, and their furry friend Noble. Both John and Angie started as PSA readers, reading short messages intended to play between programs on our broadcast. John, Angie, and Noble are avid hikers, so you’ll definitely see them on our bringing print to life hike, which is rite around the corner on august 12th. Grab some sunscreen and trekking poles, and enjoy the episode.

Elaine: full of neat surprises

Aftersight — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:41:10 -0600

The Volunteer Spotlight has been in full swing for half a year at this point, and we're not stopping any time soon. This month, we are treated with another in-house interview with Elaine, the reader of the Broomfield Enterprise. Elaine has been a reader since 2007, and she has consistently been reading the Enterprise for 16 years at this point. Elaine was on the AINC board for some time, and she was one of the people who helped get our Spanish programming off the ground. Elaine is a skier, and she even designed light up snow boards for her children, so she and her children could go night skiing. Grab a cup of hot Earl Grey tea if that's your thing and enjoy the episode.

Jerry Podgorski: from serious to humorous

Aftersight — Thu, 11 May 2023 11:57:28 -0600

Jerry has been a volunteer reader for AINC since 1996, when we were the Radio Reading Service of the Rockies. Jerry was interested in AINC, as he had done some voice over work in his previous job at a telephone company in Chicago. He started as a live reader on air, back when AINC had live readings on broadcast, and back in the days of real-to-real tape. Sit back, grab a cup of coffee or your favorite hot beverage, and enjoy the show, and be sure to check out On the Lighter Side.

Mariel Paulina Canepa: Strech, Relax, Focus

Aftersight — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 16:25:41 -0600

Mariel Paulina Canepa has been an AINC volunteer since august 2022. She is also the first Spanish volunteer on the Volunteer Spotlight. Mariel is the reader of the New York Times en Español, one of AINC’s most popular audio editions. Mariel has years of experience as an amateur actress and singer, and she has done some voiceover and broadcast work before volunteering for AINC.

Jon Arnold: Stepping Outdoors it Just the Beginning

Aftersight — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 12:54:39 -0600

In this episode of Volunteer Spotlight, we interview Jon Arnold in person at AINC which is an exciting first for this show. Jon has been the reader of the Colorado Outdoors program since August 2022. Jon has a lot of knowledge and experience in the audio industry; before volunteering for AINC, he worked at CU Boulder where he produced the podcast CU on the AIR. After the pandemic, he was looking for some volunteer opportunities, which is how he stumbled across AINC. Jon enjoys reading, particularly reading out loud, and he is a self-proclaimed audio “gear head”, and these two things combined make him an amazing reader. We are very happy to have Jon as a volunteer and as the Volunteer of the month for March, since he started, he has, and continues to put in a lot of work to make Colorado Outdoors an educational and engaging program, as there is a lot more to Colorado’s outdoors than just stepping outside.

Nick Isenburg: travel isn't always visual

Aftersight — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 10:49:58 -0700

On this second episode of the Volunteer Spotlight, Evan talks with Nick Isenberg, the host and creator of the Tactile Traveler. Nick has years of experiences as a TV reporter, and he wanted to make his own travel show. When he realized he could make a travel show for blind people, it all came together in five minutes, and he had the title and format for the Tactile Traveler. Nick has some great past travel experiences, he has been to all seven continents, including Antarctica, which he has been to twice! Nick and his producer Kayley are very excited to be the Volunteer of the Month for February.

Shugey Interview with Emily

Evan Starnes — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 17:35:31 -0700

In this first of VSL, Evan interviews Emily, the reader of Human Health. Emily, who has been recording human health for 10 years has previous experience in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as a background in audio production; therefore making her a perfect fit for the Human Health program. Emily enjoys hot tee, indie music, and going snowshoing. She is very honored to be the volunteer of the month for January.