My Blind Summer College Intern Does ‘Live’ Reports on Technology Helping Those with Disabilities
Release Date: 07/18/2024
Breaking Free from Procrastination & Limiting Beliefs with Danita Young
The Debbie Nigro Show
Ever feel like you're stuck in a loop of I’ll do it tomorrow? You're not alone! On this week's Wellness Wednesday episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, we tackled procrastination and the sneaky ways we self-sabotage—especially when it comes to fitness, confidence, and transformation. My fabulous guest, Danita Young, is a transformational coach and cognitive performance expert who knows a thing or two (or a thousand!) about helping people break free from limiting beliefs. From starting as a personal trainer to becoming a national bikini competitor, to creating Booty Bands (yes, you...
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Keeping The ‘Live’ In Alive! Steps, Sneakers, Skidjoring & Smiles!
The Debbie Nigro Show
Hey friends! On Wellness Wednesday on The Debbie Nigro Show, as always, we covered a LOT—from climbing steps like an Italian grandma climbs hills in the mountains to the latest in fancy sneakers, and even Coca-Cola's new "healthy" soda (who knew?!). Buckle up, because here’s your full recap of this week's shenanigans, wisdom, and wellness tips. Step It Up—Like an Italian Grandmother! I kicked off the show kinda moaning (I hate moaners) about my aching leg muscles. Was feeling every single step in my legs after just visiting my daughter’s house (which, by the way, is...
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Two Gal Pals Launch National Women’s Pickleball Foundation
The Debbie Nigro Show
Women Are Making Major Moves On The Pickleball Court Move over, fellas! Women are making major moves in pickleball, and The Debbie Nigro Show just got the inside scoop from two powerhouse ladies leading the charge—Alita Friedman and Catherine Barton. If you haven't caught the pickleball bug yet, let me break it down for you: It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s the ultimate social sport. And now, thanks to these two trailblazers, women finally have their own place in the game with the launch of the National Women’s Pickleball Foundation which joins the National Women’s...
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Science Says Flowers = Instant Happiness! Give Some and Spread the Smiles!
The Debbie Nigro Show
Flower Power: The Secret to Happiness & Wellness with Jill Brooke Hey there, flower lovers! If you’ve ever stopped to admire a beautiful bouquet or smiled at a fresh bloom, there’s a reason for that—flowers have scientifically proven benefits for our health and happiness! On the latest episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, we dove deep into the magic of flowers with Jill Brooke, founder and editorial director of Flower Power Daily. Jill, a floral historian and wellness advocate, shared some eye-opening insights about how flowers can: Reduce stress by lowering cortisol...
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Love Doesn't Always Go as Planned / Divorce + Social Media = A Recipe for Trouble!
The Debbie Nigro Show
What NOT to Do on Social Media During a Divorce – Straight Talk with Jill Spielberg Valentine’s Week is all about love, but let’s be real, love doesn’t always go as planned. And when it doesn’t, social media can make things way worse (like Exhibit A in court worse). That’s why I brought in Jill Spielberg, partner in charge of the Family and Matrimonial Law Department at Abrams-Fensterman LLP, to drop some major truth bombs about social media and divorce—what not to do, what could cost you in court, and even how to protect your kids. Biggest Takeaway? STOP...
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WOW! The Future of Luxury Watches Just Landed in the U.S in Greenwich
The Debbie Nigro Show
I took some time on The Debbie Nigro Show this week to talk about TIME, not the magazine—though that would be fun—but the concept of time, how we use it, and about a mind-blowing new invention that’s shaking up the world of luxury watches to display time. This one’s a game-changer! I was scrolling through Instagram when I spot a post from my friend Rob Weintraub, manager of Manfredi Jewels in Greenwich, CT. Now, if you love watches—or just admire fine craftsmanship—Manfredi is the place to know about. (I know this firsthand because I was so impressed with owner...
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Scrolling on Instagram, I Spotted an Ol’ Pal in a Collagen Ad! Had To Know. Does it Really Work?
The Debbie Nigro Show
Boosting Your Wellness with Collagen: A Chat with Cynthia Mancuso on The Debbie Nigro Show If you've been curious about collagen and whether it actually works, my latest chat on The Debbie Nigro Show is just for you! I caught up with my longtime friend Cynthia Mancuso—who I recently spotted in an ad for Native Path Collagen—to find out why she's such a fan and how it's helped her feel better from the inside out. I thought she'd get a laugh out of my calling her out of the blue to see just how this collagen thing was working for her, because I've seriously been thinking about starting...
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The Healing Power of Music: Grammy-Nominated Radhika Vekaria on The Debbie Nigro Show
The Debbie Nigro Show
It’s not every day you get to chat with a true musical visionary, but that’s exactly what happened on Wellness Wednesday when I welcomed Grammy-nominated artist Radhika Vekaria to The Debbie Nigro Show! Radhika’s voice isn’t just beautiful—it’s healing. Her album Warriors of Light has earned her a well-deserved Grammy nomination in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category, and let me tell you, this woman is redefining ancient music in the modern world. Born in London with Indian and East African roots, Radhika grew up surrounded by music—literally from the...
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The Moke —The Coolest Ride You Didn’t Know You Needed!
The Debbie Nigro Show
Ever see something so fun and fabulous that you just need to know more? That’s exactly what happened when I spotted a bright red Moke pulling up at a swanky beach club in Delray Beach, Florida. Part golf cart, part beach cruiser, and 100% head-turner. Naturally, I did what any curious gal would do—I took a picture, went down a rabbit hole of info, and landed right at Moke America. Turns out, the Moke isn’t new—it’s iconic! Originally a British military vehicle (yes, parachuted out of airplanes), it’s now an all-electric, open-air, customizable dream ride....
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'Coquito' Magic from the $10M Cocktail Creator!
The Debbie Nigro Show
Looking for the perfect holiday drink? Meet Coquito, Puerto Rico’s creamy, coconut-infused answer to eggnog—and the recipe comes straight from Nick Mautone, the mixology mastermind behind the $10 million Honey Deuce cocktail at the U.S. Open. When asked what makes the Coquito so special, Nick said, “You almost can’t screw it up. It’s rich, indulgent, and full of those sweet holiday spices that make everything feel festive.” Nick’s take on Coquito skips the evaporated milk for more coconut richness, blending coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, dark rum, and a dash of...
info_outlineKathleen Masciana is my summer college intern. She’s a sweet and smart college gal with an impressive list of credits.
She insists on calling me Miss Nigro. I keep telling her to call me Debbie.
Kathleen who is blind, aspires to be a radio and podcast talk show host. She posted her first attempt at hosting a talk show on YouTube on ‘BTGS Radio’ on Stationhead.com. 'BTGS Radio' stands for Blind Techie Geek Speaks.
Kathleen’s a self-proclaimed technology geek. That’s what she loves reading about, thinking about, learning about.
So I gave Kathleen an important job to fulfill her internship. I told her to go do research and contribute each week live on my ‘Trending Tuesday’ show, a report on the trending technologies that are helping make life easier and more interesting for those with disabilities.
This way I help her get real time experience on the air and she helps me stay informed and educates my listeners.
Kathleen is also a beta tester for Apple, and she tests pre-release software to see if there are bugs or issues before a software debuts.
“So, what I do for Apple, I test pre-release software before it's out in the public. And I want to make sure all the bugs are out of it. So, the software's untested. And I have to check everything, like what new features are in it. Like, for example, in iOS 17, there was a feature called Personal Voice. There was a feature called Personal Voice that was released back with iOS 17. And now with iOS 18, there's a twist. This feature is now integrated with voiceover and spoken content. Really? Yes. Mainly, Personal Voice is designed for people that are at risk of losing their ability to speak.
For example, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. He had to use a synthesized voice from a computer program. But if this feature was released in his time, he could have created a voice that sounds like him with 15 minutes of training, and you have to read 150 phrases to complete the process. And it takes about one night for everything to process, all the voice recordings that you make.”
Fascinating!
Kathleen uses a Braille computer, an iPhone, an iPad and other devices with voiceover.
She and I communicate by texts which on her end are read out loud to her through a voice over screen reader.
As for her live debut, she did great, however I did tell her I wanted her to sound a little ‘peppier’ when she talks on the air because good energy attracts other good energy!
Her second report on my show was on the latest ‘apps for the deaf’. Because Kathleen videos our audio interviews on ‘her end’ you can hear her doing my show on her own You Tube station.
Hope you feel the good energy of this collaboration in reading this post.
Here’s the podcast of Kathleen Masciana's first live segment reporting in on The Debbie Nigro Show.
The Debbie Nigro Show Airs Weekdays 11-12 Noon EST in the NY/CT area on 1490 WGCH Radio. You can ‘Listen Live’ from anywhere in the world on WGCH.com