Remembering Petey Cerf and the founding of the Audio-Reader Network at the University of Kansas in 1971. Featuring interviews with Audio-Reader founder Petey Cerf, former employee Tom Doyle, former director Patty Cahill and volunteer reader Eleanor Symons.

Audio-Reader Network launched it's radio reading service on October 11th, 1971 - sharing the gift of sight through sound for 50 years!

Remembering Petey Cerf and the Founding of Audio-Reader 1971

Ways to Listen to Audio-Reader!

Good Works S2 EP02 - The Hill Adaptive Athletes

Audio-Reader's Martha Kehr is joined by Jill Craft with Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association.

Since 1969 Visiting Nurses has been dedicated to ensuring every patient in need receives necessary medical care regardless of their ability to pay. We take pride in our history of service and continually seek to provide quality, comprehensive home health and hospice care.

https://www.kansasvna.org/

Good Works S2 EP04 - Visiting Nurses Association

The urgent mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness is to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.
https://www.fightingblindness.org/

Good Works S2 EP05 - Foundation Fighting Blindness

Lawrence Meals On Wheels (LMOW) serves hot, nutritious meals to the homebound elderly and/or disabled Monday through Friday, with the exception of several holidays, such as Christmas. The meals are purchased from Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH).  LMH prepares the meals to meet the individual specifications of each diet order, under the supervision of a licensed dietician.

https://www.lawrencemow.org/

Good Works S2 EP09 - Meals on Wheels

Medicare Open Enrollment is live now! Health Resources Coordinator for the Senior Resource Center for Douglas County (YourSRC) Lori Phillips joined us to talk about changes to this years plans, and share resources to help with Medicare enrollment.

Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) is the federal State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for navigating Medicare in Kansas. SHICK is free, unbiased, and confidential. Trained community counselors answer questions about Medicare and other insurance issues. This program is supported by grants and donations. We do not sell anything.

Need assistance with anything Medicare?
Call us at 785-727-7872 or email Medicare@YourSRC.org
https://yoursrc.org/

Good Works S02 EP10 - Medicare Open Enrollment with Your SRC

This episode of Good Works in the Heartland, we chat with Clenece Louise Roberts Hills, author, radiohost and educator. 

In her unique memoir, Saturday's Child: 75 Years of Learning on the Job, Clenece Louise Robert Hills captures her memories through the lens of 75 years of employment – including teaching English and Drama in Maryland, Missouri and Kansas, managing a church foster home with her husband and family, leading elaborate celebrations for the Bicentennial (1976) and the Lawrence, Kansas Sesquicentennial (2004) and more than a decade of hosting radio shows.

Hills’ remarkable memory and insight shines through in this collection of vignettes, in which she pays tribute to many people who have had a positive impact on her life and work.

https://www.clenecehills.net/

Good Works S02 EP11 - Lawrence Author Clenece Hills

For our first episode of our 3rd series, Audio-Reader Communications Coordinator Martha Kehr talks with Kisha Steineger of Care Patrol. 

Kisha Steineger is a Senior Care Consultant from Care Patrol of Northeast Kansas. CarePatrol senior care advisors and assisted living consultants are committed to finding the best community for your loved one. Find out more at www.carepatrol.com or call Kisha at 785-766-9005.

Good Works S03 EP01 - Care Patrol

Platte County Senior Services enables seniors to live full and independent lives by providing nutrition services as well as opportunities to interact with others and socialize in activities throughout the community. PSSI is a 501C 3 nonprofit agency serving Platte County seniors, age 60 and older, since 1982. We provide activities, education, exercise and various services at our Centers.
https://platteseniorservices.org/

Good Works S03 EP02 - Platte Senior Services

The Usher Syndrome Coalition is the core of the global Usher syndrome community, working to connect those living with Usher syndrome to resources, research, and each other. The Coalition uses the power of two data collection tools to build the community, leading to a better understanding of Usher syndrome, improved quality of life, and treatments for hearing, vision, and balance issues associated with Usher.

https://www.usher-syndrome.org/

Good Works S03 EP04 - Usher Syndrome Coalition

Martha & Nick report from their visit to the National Beep Baseball Association's World Series in St Louis this past July.

The National Beep Baseball Association is an organization committed to fostering competition and camaraderie through the game of beep baseball for the blind and visually impaired.

There are two conventional ways to enjoy baseball: As a fan or as a player. Only a small percentage of players actually make it into the major leagues. But thousands of people, at varying degrees of success and levels, joyously charge out to their positions on fields and sand lots to the cry of “play ball.” Nearly forty years ago that privilege was not an option for persons who lacked sufficient vision to play the game. For those persons, regardless of their desire and potential skill, had no option to be involved in baseball other than as a fan. Read more on the history of beep baseball.

Good Works S03 EP06 - NBBA Beep Ball World Series

Good Works S03 Ep09 - Your Senior Resource Center + Medicare Enrollement

Safety Positive Foundation believes blindness should not be a barrier between you and your personal safety. We've got the resources to help.

Amy SP Wilson, the trailblazer behind the Safety Positive Foundation, is revolutionizing personal safety for the blind and visually impaired community.

Amy’s journey began in March of 2023, but her path has been shaped by a diverse range of experiences. Some have been uplifting, while others have been challenging, but each one has served as a valuable lesson that propelled her towards the creation of the Safety Positive Foundation.

Good Works S04 EP01 - Safety Positive

CCLVI is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and a Special Interest Affiliate of the American Council of the Blind.

We are an international nonprofit organization and community of individuals who understand low vision needs and experiences. CCLVI is here to provide support, resources, education, and advocacy for those who are impacted by low vision and visual impairment. From publications, to live Zoom calls, online resources, and conferences. Discover what we have to offer you.

https://cclvi.info/

Good Works S04 EP02 - Council of Citizens with Low Vision International

The Beacon 07-17-2025: 'They need to be given the opportunity not to die': Amid opioid crisis, federal cuts put harm-reduction efforts at risk

The Leaven 10-03-2025

PottawatomieEmergencyManagement - PreparednessGuide - 15 Earthquakes

PottawatomieEmergencyManagement - PreparednessGuide - 16 Extreme Temperatures

PottawatomieEmergencyManagement - PreparednessGuide - 17 Fires

Founded in 2009 by Christine Chaikin, Insightful Publications publishes State Resource Handbooks that provide information, resources and a user-friendly platform for the blind and visually impaired community. The state resource handbooks are for consumers and professionals and valuable for residents with contact information at the local, regional, and national levels, making it a comprehensive guide for those seeking assistance and support. The State Resource Handbooks also include employment, housing, transportation, and additional information and resources. We’re here to help and serve you on your journey toward greater empowerment, independence, and success. Thank you for visiting Insightful Publications, and we look forward to assisting you in your quest for valuable resources and information.

https://in-sightful.com/

Good Works S04 EP03 - Insightful Publications

Imagine having a trusted camp buddy by your side—someone who’s always there to help you navigate and explore with confidence. That’s what our Visual Interpreter Pro (VIP) Service is all about! Backed by years of experience in visual interpreting and support for blind and low-vision individuals, We’re here to provide clear, reliable, and personalized assistance tailored to your unique needs.

Good Works S04 EP04 - VisualEyes Access

Better Senior Living - November 2025 - Events

Better Senior Living - November 2025 - Articles

The Leaven 11-07-2025

The Leaven 11-21-2025

The Leaven 12-12-2025

Kansas has remarkable stories, but many of them are not widely known or taught in our schools.
The Kansas People’s History Project will begin to address this gap by making history present and visible in our everyday lives.

This is a project spear-headed by Lawrence artist Dave Loewenstein and back in February, Dave joined us here in the studios in Audio Reader to tell us a little bit more about what the Kansas People's History Project is all about.

www.kansaspeopleshistoryproject.com

--
The Rolling Wave theme music by OILS http://oilstheband.com

The Rolling Wave - Kansas People's History Project w/Dave Loewenstein

Molly Murphy solo exhibition: Relation
Opening Reception: Final Fridays, June 24th 5-9pm
*show runs through July*

From the artist:
Drawing from elements of the natural world and the mind-body connection, Murphy creates richly textured canvases that immediately strike viewers with their physical depth, the surfaces eluding to the many layers that lie beneath. 
"My work is meditative in both subject and technique, beginning with broad brushed underpainting on which lavish layers of palette knife strokes are applied, deliberately carved into and layered multiple times. My current work stems from an earlier series based on the neurology of memory as it relates to abstract works of art, but now relies almost entirely on intuition and the meditative process in painting to reveal the direction of each work, rather than a rigid set of rules. Each work addresses aspects of the human experience and persistence of the ego as it exists in a world much larger than ourselves, and the finished work embraces this duality."

www.mollyfrancesmurphy.com

The Rolling Wave - Molly Frances Murphy

This week on The Rolling Wave, we discuss the #WeAreAmerica viral video released for 4th July as part of the #LoveHasNoLabels campaign by the Ad Council. We speak with Ad Council Campaign Director, Jennifer Walters.

Watch the video at https://youtu.be/0MdK8hBkR3s

Share your support for love and inclusion by creating your own #WeAreAmerica gif at www.lovehasnolabels.com.

Visit Ad Council’s Official website: http://www.adcouncil.org/
LIKE Ad Council On Facebook: http://po.st/LikeAdCouncil

---

The Rolling Wave theme music by OILS
https://oilsoilsoils.bandcamp.com/

The Rolling Wave - We Are America Viral Video w/The Ad Council

Howard Graham, Associate Director for Academic Programs with the KU Office of First-Year Experience talks to us about KU Common Book. KU Common Book is a campus-wide initiative started by the University of Kansas in 2012, with the goal of engaging first-year students. 

A key component of the KU strategic plan is to invest in intellectual experiences for first-year students. As part of this emphasis, KU Common Book generates opportunities for shared intellectual experiences that invite analysis, fosters critical thinking, and reflects the type of reasoned discourse expected at a university.

First-year students receive the common book at Orientation and are encouraged to read and discuss the book at activities and programs throughout the year.  
The program is coordinated by the Office of First-Year Experience and is governed by the KU Common Book Committee, comprised of faculty, staff, and students from across campus.

http://commonbook.ku.edu/

KU Common Book w/Howard Graham

Filmmaker Joe McGovern talks about his documentary The Other Side: A Liberal Democrat Explores Conservative America.

Joe McGovern is a former teacher, vice principal, social worker, pro soccer player, and wilderness therapy guide who now makes his living acting and teaching in Los Angeles.

Joe is also the filmmaker and star of the documentary film The Other Side, in which he travels around the US in a camper van, meeting and interviewing conservatives and those on the other end of the political spectrum from himself, a progressive liberal democrat.

20,000 miles, 5 months, 35 states and 82 interviews later, The Other Side was finally completed with support from The Foundation for Independent Voter Education (FIVE) and with help from the public through a GoFundMe crowd-funding campaign.

theothersidedocumentary.com

The Rolling Wave theme music by OILS
oilsoilsoils.bandcamp.com

Talking Politics with The Other Side documentary filmmaker Joe McGovern

Audio-Reader is excited to announce that our live broadcast stream is now available on Amazon’s Echo, Echo Dot and any Amazon Alexa-enabled smart speaker. 
To get started, tell your smart speaker to 
“Enable the Audio-Reader skill”
Once confirmed, you can say 
“Alexa, play Audio-Reader” to hear the current broadcast
You can also ask Alexa
“What is playing now?” to hear a description of the current program, and
“What is the Audio-Reader Schedule?” to hear what is coming up on broadcast
That’s Audio-Reader’s live broadcast stream, now available on all Amazon Alexa-enabled smart speakers. 
For more info, call (785) 864 4600 or visit reader.ku.edu

Audio-Reader on Amazon Alexa

Audio-Reader volunteers make news and information accessible every day!

In episode #2, we will hear about Disability Mentoring Day in Kansas City. Brian Ellefson, the committee chairperson for the event spoke to Audio-Reader’s Lori Kesinger about this important program and organization, doing Good Work in the Heartland of America.

Good Works in the Heartland - EP2 - Disability Mentoring Day

This podcast stream will now be home to Audio-Reader's Good Works in the Heartland Podcast, where we celebrate the organizations and individuals who are improving the lives of others throughout Kansas, Missouri and the Midwest.

Each episode will focus on one community group, non-profit or social service organization that provides essential services to those in need, enriching lives and connecting communities across the Midwest.

New Podcast Announcment - Good Works in the Heartland

In episode 3, we are joined by Claire Shanovich, the outreach and sustainability coordinator for Kansas Advocates for Better Care. Audio-Reader’s Lori Kesinger spoke with Claire about the issues facing elders in care facilities or at home, and the work of Kansas Advocates for Better Care, a non-profit organization, doing Good Work in the Heartland of America.

More about Kansas Advocates for Better Care at https://www.kabc.org/

Good Works in the Heartland - EP3 - Kansas Advocates for Better Care

This week is a special edition of the podcast, talking specifically about Medicare, and the upcoming Medicare enrollment deadline which is Saturday December 7th. 

Lori Phillips of the Senior Resource Center for Douglas County joined Audio-Reader's Meredith Johanning to help us decipher some of the details of Medicare and the myriad of enrollment options available.

http://yoursrc.org/home/resources-for-seniors/health-care/
https://www.medicare.gov/

Good Works EP5 - Talking Medicare

The goal of Lawrence Habitat for Humanity is to provide simple, decent, affordable housing for low to moderate income families in Douglas and Jefferson Counties. We believe in a homeownership process that empowers families to create ongoing change in their lives. We’re a Christian-based organization that offers a hand up, not a hand-out.

http://lawrencehabitat.org/

Good Works EP9 - Habitat For Humanity

We're back after a brief hiatus while getting our #StayatHome work routine and technical operations in place!

This episode, we are joined by Sam Porritt from Falling Forward Foundation and Michelle Teets with Ability KC

Good Works EP12 - Falling Forward + Ability KC

Audio-Reader's Lori Kesinger is joined by Megan Poindexter of the Senior Resource Center for Douglas County and Jill Craft from Visiting Nurses to talk about the upcoming Virtual 2020 Legislative Forum at 2pm October 14th.

Log-in or call-in to participate in an annual forum with Douglas County's Commissioners\Candidates, and our State Legislators\ Candidates to discuss issues important to seniors. 

For more information or for the call-in number, contact the Senior Resource Center at 785-842-0543.

Virtual 2020 Legislative Forum
Wednesday October 14th, 2pm via Zoom
Zoom Meeting ID: 880 9193 7619
Passcode: 123456

Good Works EP14 - 2020 Legislative Forum for Douglas County - Oct 14

Lori Kesinger speaks with KU professor and author of "Downsizing: Confronting Our Possessions in Later Life", David J. Ekerdt

As life unfolds, things tend to accumulate. When older adults undergo health, residential, and marital changes, they will face a reckoning with their lifelong store of possessions—special, ordinary, and forgotten. Such a predicament now confronts tens of millions of Americans as the Baby Boom cohort passes into retirement and beyond. Despite what a thriving industry of clutter manuals tells us, for most older adults, downsizing is no simple task.

Purchase the book from Columbia University Press: http://cup.columbia.edu/book/downsizing/9780231189811

Good Works EP15 - "Downsizing" Book with David Ekerdt

Audio-Reader's "Good Works in the Heartland" podcast celebrates the organizations and individuals improving the lives of others throughout Kansas, Missouri and the Midwest. Each episode focuses on one community group, non-profit or social service organization that provides essential services to those in need, enriching lives and connecting communities across the Midwest.

The Audio-Reader Network is an audio information service for blind, visually impaired, and print disabled individuals. We provide access to a wide range of content including newspapers, magazines and books, on the air, on the internet and over the telephone 24 hours a day. Services are offered free of charge to anyone who is unable to read standard printed material.

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