Mystic Access Podcast - podcast cover

Mystic Access Podcast

Chris Nova, Kim Novamysticaccesspodcast.com
We record podcasts on assistive technology and products and services which we find of interest. We specialize in providing comprehensive tools for people who are blind and visually impaired to become empowered to maximize the use of their access technology while having fun doing it.
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Episodes

Telescoping Canes, Hurricane Tracking, Our New Safety Book, and More

Welcome to our final 2025 episode recorded in North Carolina! To kick things off, we brought you outside to experience some late-summer nature sounds. Unfortunately, the ambiance was interrupted by the air conditioner, so we moved the recording indoors. We hope the natural setting was a nice touch before the interruption! In this episode, we’re picking up where we left off last time with our tease about canes. An unexpected situation at the ACB convention has led us to new discoveries, and we’re...

Aug 19, 202544 min

Echos, Fire Tablets and Alexa+, Oh My!

Most of this episode is dedicated to all things Amazon. We have numerous demos and thoughts to share on several products. First, however, we’re announcing a twenty-five percent off sale to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary on August 11. The sale runs from Friday August eighth through end of day Tuesday August twelfth, and you’ll save on all our audio documentation, including our new Audible Adventures product. We highly recommend it for all book-lovers! We begin our look at Amazon product...

Aug 05, 20251 hr 26 min

Convention Adventures

In this episode, we discuss our travels to and from the ACB Convention. Links coming soon. Stay tuned.

Jul 22, 20251 hr 9 min

Convention Season, Summer Sales, and a Walk with Voice Vista

This episode is a short and sweet one—many of us are busy enjoying both virtual and in-person convention fun! Convention Season Sale Our summer sale is live! From now through July 14, save 30% on all digital audio documentation. • We’re currently at the ACB convention in Dallas, then heading to our summer home in North Carolina, and will be back at our desks on August 25. • Hardware orders (like speakers and cables) will ship after we return to New York. • If you order physical media (thumb driv...

Jul 08, 202514 min

Minisode – New Product announcement

Hi everyone, We’re excited to share a brand-new episode with you! In this release, we introduce our latest product — Audible Adventures. This comprehensive offering explores the accessibility of the Audible service across a variety of platforms, giving you a clearer picture of how to enjoy your favorite audiobooks no matter how you listen. Thanks so much for tuning in and being part of our podcast community!...

Jul 04, 202512 min

Summer Sales, Rural Internet Adventures, and a Tour of the Audiobooks.com App

In this episode, we’ve got a little something for everyone—from tech updates to travel logistics to summer savings! Summer Convention Sale We’re kicking things off with an announcement: our Summer Convention Sale is on! From June 24 through July 14, enjoy 30% off all audio documentation (hardware not included). If you’ve been interested in something from our catalog, now’s a great time to explore and purchase. Please note: • We’ll be attending the ACB convention in Dallas, followed by time in No...

Jun 24, 202545 min

A Smarter Way to Stay Safe: Exploring the X-Sense Talking Smoke Alarm

In this episode, we demonstrate the X-Sense Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm featuring voice location technology. Hear how it works, what sets it apart from traditional alarms, and why it might be a great addition to your home safety setup. If you choose to purchase through our Amazon affiliate link above, we may earn a small commission thanks for supporting the show! —

Jun 10, 202537 min

Steps, Screens, and Speaking Coffee Machines

We hope you have as much fun listening to this episode as we had creating it! Come along as we walk a few steps (maybe more, maybe less—no judgment here!) through a mix of nostalgic tech, helpful tools, and safety tips. In This Episode: Blast from the Past: The Primula Talking Coffee Maker We revisit our Blast from the Past series to chat about the quirky and charming Primula talking coffee maker from 2009—billed as “the world’s first talking coffee maker.” Chris gives a live demo and walks you ...

May 27, 202537 min

200 Dollars Saved, 100 Hours of Music, and a Whole Lot of Rattling

In this episode, we kick things off with a travel tip that recently saved us $200—and it just might save you money too! Whether you’re booking flights, rental cars, or hotel stays (especially via Expedia), this simple trick is worth knowing. While we haven’t found an equivalent for train travel yet, we hope this helps with your summer plans! Next, we’re thrilled to share our official plans for ACB Dallas in July! If you’re attending, come say hi—we’d love to meet you while wandering the exhibits...

May 13, 202551 min

Taste a New Place

Episode Summary: In this episode, Chris and Kim kick things off by sharing some listener feedback, including a mention of Hartgen Consultancy’s valuable products and services. Next, with the deadline for obtaining a REAL ID quickly approaching, we dive into what you may need to know if you plan to fly and still need to get yours. We also take a moment to remind listeners about our upcoming Mac event and where you can find more details. Activate this link to download a free introduction. Activate...

Apr 29, 202538 min

Beating the Heat + Planning for Summer Adventures

In this episode, we’re helping you prep for late spring and summer with affordable ways to stay cool and escape the heat—wherever you are. Cool Gadgets for Warmer Days Chris shares his experience with the Vornado TRANSOM window fan, which he used in our summer home last year. This powerful fan features a weather-resistant case, reversible exhaust mode, and four speeds. There are two versions available—one with a remote, and one that works with Alexa. Chris explains the differences and demos the ...

Apr 15, 202538 min

Site Checkout Improvements, An Innovative Bluetooth Sleep Mask, and an Older Cord Cutting App Becomes Incredibly Accessible on iOS

In This Episode: A Smarter Checkout, A Soothing Sleep Mask, and Budget-Friendly Streaming In this episode, we’re diving into three exciting updates and discoveries we think you’ll love. First up, we’ve made a helpful improvement to the checkout process at [MysticAccess.com](https://www.MysticAccess.com). Whether you’re updating your shipping address or entering one for the first time, the process is now much smoother and more intuitive. Next, we unbox a feature-rich sleep mask that’s become a ne...

Apr 01, 20251 hr 6 min

Exploring the World of Podcasts: How to Listen, Discover, and Enjoy

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the world of podcasts! Whether you’re new to podcasting or a seasoned listener, we’re covering everything from finding topics that interest you to following your favorite shows. We’ll also discuss common pitfalls to avoid and share insights from our own experiences with Apple Podcasts, the Wondery app, and other podcatchers we love. Not sure what a “podcatcher” is? No worries! We’ll break down helpful podcast terminology and take a nostalgic journey through ...

Mar 18, 202528 min

On Purchasing Electronics Accessories, Tips for Using the iPhone 16E, Cheaper Phone Plans, and Helpful AI

In this episode, we dive into a variety of topics—so even if something doesn’t seem relevant to you at first, stick around! You might pick up some valuable insights or learn some lessons along the way. **Ring Camera Accessories & the Importance of Research** Chris shares his experience with the accessories he purchased for our newest Ring camera after an issue with the included mount. This serves as a reminder of why researching products and reading reviews carefully is so important. **The i...

Mar 04, 202536 min

Exploring Smart Canes, Toys, and a Surprise Feature

In this episode, we dive into a mix of tech, fun, and surprises! We start by discussing our upcoming event focused on the BlindShell Classic 3 phone and how it compares to its predecessor. Then, we explore the WeWalk smart canes , comparing the first and second generations to see what’s new and improved. Next, things take a playful turn as we test out a transforming radio-controlled truck— Note: this is our Amazon affiliate link, ordering from this link, we may receive a small commission. Chris’...

Feb 18, 202559 min

Plush it is Not

Today we announce an event comparing the BlindShell 2 and 3 cell phones, and have demos of JAWS Picture Smart, and the meal delivery service Factor. This is one of our really long episodes, so grab a snack and a drink before getting started. first, we’re very excited to announce our upcoming event comparing and contrasting the BlindShell 2 and 3 cell phones. If you’re looking for a high-quality, totally accessible cell phone for yourself, already own a BlindShell 2 and wonder if an upgrade to th...

Feb 04, 20251 hr 13 min

Trying to Find Your Couch

We’re back with a number of small discussions and two quick demos, so we hope you find something enjoyable among the talking points. First, we update you on our use of tiles. Chris shares about another version of a tile he plans to purchase and why. He demos finding his phone, how the tile works with Alexa and Google, and we discuss our thoughts on using tiles versus air tags in our own lives. Next, Kim talks about her COVID test that wasn’t. Learn about what she read about “accessible” COVID te...

Jan 21, 202540 min

I Was A Century Behind

Today you’ll learn a bit about tracking things with Tile! We’re both rather under the weather for this episode, but hopefully our cool topic makes up for our weird-sounding voices. Tile is a versatile way to track your keys, wallet, and lots of other items no matter which platform you use. There are various types of tiles available depending on what you want to keep track of. We talk a bit about the free tile we received with our Life360 subscription, show you the iOS app, and share some availab...

Jan 07, 202524 min

Pop The Bubble

It’s our Christmas Eve edition and we have some updates and tips to present. LOL Sorry, had to go there. First, what do you think of our new mics? These are the Hollyland Lark M2 model and we love them so far. There are several versions you can purchase depending on whether you use Android, iOS, or both. Plus, their magnetic accessories are awesome! Next, we have a very important announcement about ordering from us on NLS cartridges. If you like to order your documentation on cartridge, please l...

Dec 24, 202429 min

Your Screen Will Go to Sleep

This is our last full episode of 2024. We do have one more coming out on Christmas Eve, but it will just be short and sweet. So we’ve packed a few fun discussions and some heart-felt thanks into this one. First, a friendly reminder that the mail is pretty slow this time of year, so be sure to order those presents as soon as possible at this stage. We still have some hardware available if you’re looking for gifts, and of course, lots of digital audio, too. Visit mysticaccess.com/shop for all the ...

Dec 10, 202442 min

Calorie Free Pizza

This episode is jam-packed with goodies, so we hope you enjoy the fun. First, you’re all warmly invited to our post-Thanksgiving open house. It’s free, fun, and festive, and takes place on Friday, November 29 between 1-5 PM eastern time. To register your seat. please visit this link. We also mention some of our hardware that’ll be on sale for Black Friday. Check out the episode for all the details, and shop with us between Friday the 29th and Monday December 2nd to save twenty-five percent on ne...

Nov 26, 202451 min

Virtual Leftovers

In this informative episode we begin by discuss the importance of backing up your information. We recently switched our password manager to one we simply like more, and starting from scratch would have been annoying and lengthy. Backing up is important no matter what your software or files consist of, though, and we hope this reminder is helpful. Next, we share an upcoming event in which Mystic Access is featured. We’ll be presenting on Tek Talk during their Stocking Stuffers series on Monday, N...

Nov 12, 202443 min

Peanut Butter And Jelly

This episode has it all; something spooky, something sappy, and something practical. But first, Kim discusses a cool voting tool she found this year. While it’s unfortunately too late in the election cycle to be helpful in 2024, she wanted to share anyway in case someone is interested in using it later if it’s available in your state. For Halloween this year, we bought a plush talking pumpkin. While he may sound cute in theory, our demo may surprise you, or even give you a scare. You can purchas...

Oct 29, 202434 min

The End of The Story

In this episode Chris and Kim unbox and set up the Ray-ban Meta Smart Glasses . They each decided to purchase a pair for themselves. They discuss why they ultimately chose to purchase, which glasses they bought, and an experience that caused them to buy sooner than they may have otherwise. Each setup process is a little different, so we hope you’ll enjoy listening and learning more. Please note: The above link is our Amazon affiliate link. If you purchase from this link we may receive a small co...

Oct 15, 20241 hr 13 min

The Worst Part Is Waiting

Have you ever had loved ones impacted by a hurricane, flood, tornado, or other natural disaster? Did you have accessible methods for finding accurate information? This podcast is for those times when you’re feeling helpless and want to know what’s going on in such a scary situation. In the wake of the devastation of Helene, we thought now was as important a time as any to share some tips. Learn ways to get information, cautions when making donations, and much more. We hope this info is valuable....

Oct 01, 202422 min

Waiting To Get Activated

In this episode Chris and Kim remind users of the Free event on the mac coming up on the 24th of the month. Next we use RIM to show how easy it is to connect and receive remote help. Finally we discuss Glide from glidance.io.

Sep 17, 202447 min

Roll Down The Wall

This episode offers an upcoming class announcement, a castle interview, a fun demo, and more. Let’s dive in! First, Chris provides an update on the pathfinder cane tip. He loves it, but there’s one important thing you must know before you buy. Listen to learn more. Next, Kim demos the Merlin bird identification app. This free app is available for iOS and Android, and helps you identify birds from across the US and Canada. We love Merlin and hope you’ll enjoy this demo. Next, we enter the castle ...

Sep 03, 20241 hr 2 min

Marshmallow Lovers

This episode features are pre-sunrise porch ambiance as we share about a variety of topics. You’ll hear about everything from bees, to crows, to raindrops–and a lot of crickets. So, get ready for the sounds and subjects of this crazy conversation. Chris begins by sharing about his unfortunate run-in with a tiny winged critter. Has anything like this happene to you? We next discuss a very cool story about a recent Ambutech purchase. Not only can we highly recommend their customer support, but so ...

Aug 20, 202440 min

Playful Curious Spirit

Today’s jam-packed episode starts out with some slightly different sounds. That’s because we got some awesome new headsets to use for work in general and podcasting specifically. We discuss why we got these, what you receive, and the many reasons we like them so much. Chris also does an amazing demo to show you just how much noise they can cancel out. Interested in getting a set for yourself? Kim uses the EKSA E1000 USB Gaming Headset for PC, Computer Headphones with Microphone/Mic Noise Cancell...

Aug 06, 202454 min
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