Blind, But Now I See - With the Official Blind Steppa: Chris Felder

[00:00:00] Speaker A: This episode of the New Yorkers podcast is brought to you by new york100.org recognizing excellence across New York City's five boroughs. Hello, everyone, and welcome to the New Yorkers, a podcast by New York City Cop. I am your host, Kelly Kopp, published photographer, New York City tour business owner, real estate content creator, podcaster, and above all else, a New Yorker. [00:00:24] Speaker B: Ladies and gentlemen, the next Brooklyn found train in Val Biden. [00:00:30] Speaker A: Stand clear of the closing. Do please. [00:00:58] Speaker B: Shovel to Grand Central Foreign. [00:01:06] Speaker A: With me today, my friends, I have Chris Felder. He is a podcaster, motivational speaker, and survivor, but above all else, he is a New Yorker. Hey, Chris. Welcome to the show. How you doing today, my friend? [00:01:19] Speaker B: I'm good. Thanks, Kelly. Thanks for having me. [00:01:21] Speaker A: We're so honored to have you here. You know, you're good friends with Wolf here in the studio, and we've. I. He said nothing but amazing things about you. Jay and I are super excited to talk to you today. [00:01:36] Speaker B: It's definitely a pleasure being here. Thank y' all. [00:01:38] Speaker A: Oh, definitely, my friend. So, Chris, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself, you know, where you. Where are you from and what you do? What do you do? Just. Just all about you. [00:01:49] Speaker B: All right, so my name is Chris. I'm from the streets of Bess style, Brooklyn. Born and raised in Brooklyn my whole life. I'm a podcast, the motivational speaker. [00:02:01] Speaker A: Nice. [00:02:02] Speaker B: Couple other things. I'm the first blonde party promoter. You've probably never seen a blind party promoter. First blind part. I might be the first for everything, to be honest. I just keep it rolling. But 13 years ago, I was shot in my streets of Brooklyn. Twice to the head, once to the shoulder, which took my vision, caused me to be visually impaired. Blind. [00:02:26] Speaker A: So you're 100. Visually impaired? [00:02:28] Speaker B: 100%. [00:02:29] Speaker A: And so I want to ask you to. Is the correct term I can say blind or visually impaired. What? [00:02:35] Speaker B: Say blind. Visually impaired. [00:02:38] Speaker A: It all works. It all works very good. So I don't know if very good is the right phrase. People say things like, you know, throughout the. The podcast. Well, you know, I want to feel, you know, I think it's, you know, I'm very comfortable talking with anybody about anything. And. And I want. I like to, you know, help people feel comfortable, you know, with the proper terminology, as you should, things like that, you know. So you were born in Brooklyn, you said? [00:03:04] Speaker B: Yes, best. [00:03:05] Speaker A: And. And your brother, sisters, mom, dad. [00:03:10] Speaker B: Yes. Oh, born in Brooklyn. [00:03:14] Speaker A: And did you have. How was your childhood? You just a normal, regular, fun? [00:03:18] Speaker B: Yeah, fine. Yeah. Running up and down the streets playing skelly hot piece of butter. Red lova, red light, green light. Basketball. I was into sports. Handball. I did it all growing up. [00:03:34] Speaker A: That's awesome. So as you're telling us right now, in your mind's eye, are you envisioning doing this or what? Do you see those every. [00:03:42] Speaker B: Every time? [00:03:42] Speaker A: Yeah, you're all those memories that you see descent around. [00:03:45] Speaker B: We talk about basketball. I remember no playing basketball games, getting trophies and trying to be the best at everything. I do. Like, I was very competitive. [00:03:54] Speaker A: Right. [00:03:55] Speaker B: As I talk about it, I definitely got a vision. I still think I could play basketball. [00:03:59] Speaker A: You ask me, do you still play basketball too? [00:04:01] Speaker B: I still think I can. I could dribble, but leaving up to shoot. I gotta pass it to y' all. I don't know if I can shoot it. But still dribbling. I still could do it. [00:04:11] Speaker A: That's pretty cool. Yeah, that's pretty cool. So that day that that happened to you, you said, you know, you got shot in the head a couple times, correct? [00:04:19] Speaker B: Yes, correct. [00:04:21] Speaker A: And then you lost your vision instantly, then. [00:04:24] Speaker B: Correct, instant. [00:04:25] Speaker A: And then what were you feeling or thinking when you say, I'm assuming you're in the hospital and you realize you lost your. Your vision. Correct. And what. What were you feeling? What were you thinking? [00:04:41] Speaker B: When I. Because I was on a respirator for three days. [00:04:43] Speaker A: Oh, wow. [00:04:44] Speaker B: So getting off the respirator three days, the first thing that came to my mind is I got to speak to my son. [00:04:50] Speaker A: And your son was how old at this time? [00:04:51] Speaker B: My son was 1 years old. [00:04:52] Speaker A: Oh, wow. [00:04:54] Speaker B: 1 years old. That's the first thing I was going through. My mind is like, when I first. When I woke up off the respirator, nobody told me I was blind. It was just swelling to the eyes. It was. I couldn't open my eyes. It was hard to open my eyes. So just being in there, I'm just processing, just. I was just shot. In a million years, I never thought I will face being shot. I never thought I was going to feel that feeling. So I was in three days recovery. No, four days recovery. And on the seventh day in the hospital, that's when they told me, like, it's no hope. I'm never going to see again. [00:05:31] Speaker A: Can you tell us what happened? Do you want to tell us the story of what happened? [00:05:34] Speaker B: Yes, I definitely can. It was a regular. It was a Saturday, regular Saturday day. Me and some friends was going to a little get together. So we in the get together. Oh, I'm 21 years old. So we drinking, we listening to music. But it was just. Something just didn't feel right to me. So as they giving me the drinks, I'm passing off the liquor, passing it to a friend. Cause I'm like, something just didn't feel right. [00:06:00] Speaker A: Wow. [00:06:00] Speaker B: So as we in there, we just. I'm around a whole bunch of love, so I'm not thinking nothing. I'm like, maybe it's just. I'm paranoid or something is. I heard gunshots. So me and my best friend, we caught eye contact. And then from there I'm like, all right, we gotta leave now, right? So I'm like, just give it a minute. Let the cops come. Once the cops come, then we'll leave out. Cause now it's like we not getting caught up in nothing, right? So we gave it a couple of minutes. Me, him, his sister, and two of her friends, we walked out. It was like 15 boys on the corner. And they in the process of that, they was jumping two other men. So I looked at my best friend. We caught eye contact. And I'm like, all right, let's just make it to our cars. Cause he driving, I'm driving. We started navigating through the boys, walking through the boys. It was nothing. Like, they were just looking at us. It was nothing. As we put the girls in the car, we realized one of our friends was still inside the get together. So me, I felt bad. Cause I'm like, I gave him the liquor, so it's like, we can't leave him. So in the process of that, two boys walked up to us and asked us, did we have a gun on us? So we was confused. But probably before this, I just got into the EMT class. [00:07:19] Speaker A: Emt? [00:07:20] Speaker B: Yes. I took the EMT test. So I was just waiting for them to call me to go into the academy full time. So they asked us, did we have a gun? I'm like, what are you talking about? So they swung the umbrella. Me, growing up in Brooklyn, my mother always put inside, you gotta defend yourself, right? No matter what, defend yourself. So in my mind, it's, I gotta make it home no matter what. So as he swung the umbrella, we pretty much. It was like a little scuffle. And then I seen the 15 boys on the corner start chasing us. As they chasing us, I grabbed my best friend. We ran. So at this point, it's like we couldn't jump in the cars. Cause we trapped in. We trapped in. We between two cars, right? We made it to the next corner. He went left, I went right. As I'm crossing it. Running across the street, I ran into a whole nother group of boys. They pretty much jumped me, beat me up on the floor. [00:08:14] Speaker A: Wow. [00:08:15] Speaker B: As they beat me up on the floor, it's like, only thing in my mind is I just need to. For this to be over. [00:08:21] Speaker A: Right. [00:08:22] Speaker B: Next thing you know, I heard him say, go in his pockets. I'm like, you can't take. I'm not trying to get you to give you my money and my car keys or none of that. As I put my hand in my pocket to turn my body, to try to protect my face, he shot me three times. So as I heard the shots go off, I didn't feel it. Cause my. My blood, my body is rushing. [00:08:45] Speaker A: Right, Your adrenaline. [00:08:46] Speaker B: Yeah. I'm not. I didn't feel it at all. In my mind, I'm thinking, they shooting at my friend. [00:08:50] Speaker A: Wow. [00:08:51] Speaker B: So then as they shot me, they. Everybody started scattering, running. So then I tried to get up. I fell, hit the floor. I tried to get up again. I'm weak. Fell again. So now I look, I see my boots got blood on it. I got blood all on my hands. So now my best friend's trying to call me. I'm trying to swipe the phone. I just see my son on my screensaver and nothing but blood. I put my phone back in my pocket. I try to roll. I got shot directly in front of my car. Wow. But now I'm trying to roll, like, roll over to the car. I'm trying to get up. It started raining hard. I would never forget it started raining hard. I got it. Like, I tried to get on my. Like I'm on my knees, trying to lift my body up. I just fell on the floor. And it's like my body just gave up. So that's the rain. I'm looking up. I can still see around at this time. I'm shot, but I still can see. I just closed my eyes because, like, my body just felt restless, tired. So I closed my eyes. And then before I know it, the same friend I was going back to get because I was giving him the liquor. He was shaking me, and I was, like, laying on his lap, and he was shaking me. He was smacking me. He telling me to get up to talk. I hear the walkie talkies from the police. And I'm just sitting up there. I'm just like, yo, just put me in my car. Just take me home. And he like, yo, I can't take you home. He's crying. I'm. I don't Understand why he crying. I can see him clear as day. I don't know why he crying. The cops talking to me like, I still don't know what's going on. Just felt like I just took a nap and woke right back up. So now at this time, the ambulance comes. They put me on the stretcher. I'm in the back of the ambulance. They asking me questions. I'm answering it, but I'm drifting in and out. So now they cut my shirt. They put in the pads on me to prep to prepare for shot because I'm losing life in the back of the helmet. So now they going through my wallet. Now they see I'm an emt. And then Brooklyn is a hospital called Brookdale. That's a hospital you do not want to go to if. If you're going through trauma. So when they said they take me to Brookdale, the first thing in my mind is, I'm gonna die. So then they going through my wallet, they see I'm an emt. I heard urgent urgency in his voice. When he hit the back of the voice, he like, turn the ambulance around. We gotta take him to Kings County Hospital. He's one of us. So then from there, I got in the back of the ambulance. They shocked me. Now I'm up. They taking me out the back of the ambulance. And my eyes is swelling up. Now they take me out. My best friend, he meets me at the hospital. He holding on to me while they taking me in. So the little bit of the sight I do got, like, that's still there. I see nothing but white shirts, like, white coats. They was waiting for me at the door, dragged me in. They worked on me with urgency. Next thing you know, it's like I'm trying to fight them all trying to get up. They hit me with a needle to sedate, put me on a respirator. Because they were like, if my heart couldn't deal with no more pain, to a point, if I would have went into shock, I would have died. It was too much on my heart. So then I wakes up three days later, and it was. First thing that said in my mind is, where's my phone? And where's my pants? I'm ready to go. And that's when my mother told me, like, you just got shot three times. Where are you going? And I'm just set in silence, like, trying to process this. Like, I really got shot, right? Yeah. [00:12:30] Speaker A: Wow, that's. It's emotional. [00:12:34] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:12:34] Speaker A: Yeah. Thanks for telling us your story. [00:12:36] Speaker B: Nah, no problem. When I'm Here. I'm here to tell it. That's the most important thing. [00:12:40] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. Thank you for telling us that. Sharing that with us. Making me tear up. But. Yeah, but now you're here today, you know, and you're doing great. You know. [00:12:53] Speaker B: I'm doing excellent. [00:12:54] Speaker A: You're doing excellent. I love to hear that. [00:12:57] Speaker C: So after you woke up and your mother told you that you just got shot three times. [00:13:02] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:13:03] Speaker C: What. What happened next? What'd you do? [00:13:06] Speaker B: Well, it was a roller coaster because I. It was a lot of girls at the hospital, a lot of friends, a lot of family. It was just hard to process at that time. It just. It took away from, like. First thing I asked, why is I can't see, why I can't see. [00:13:23] Speaker A: Right. [00:13:24] Speaker B: But I see the doctors was coming in, they would drop out drops in my eyes. They was putting ointment and cream. So in my mind, it's like, all right, I got shot twice in my head. I'm feeling the scars on each side of my head. So I'm like, okay, my head is swollen. Maybe I exaggerate to the swelling go down on my eyes. So I'm in there. I'm not eating, just. I'm just eating, drinking smoothies and fruit. I lost my appetite. I lost. When I got shot, I was 200 pounds. I went down to 140 pounds. [00:13:54] Speaker A: Wow. [00:13:55] Speaker B: Lost a lot of blood. They wanted to even put somebody else blood inside of me. I turned it down. I'm like, I'm not doing just. It was just a lot to process. So then the whole time I'm in there, I'm just. I'm crying, I'm worrying because it's like, I just want to see my son. My son is too young to come up to the hospital to see me. So it's like, in my mind, it's like, I don't know what I got to do, but I got to do something to get out this hospital to see my job. The doctor said, pretty much it's all dependent on me. I'm going to be here for a month. That was day month. I'm going to be in this hospital for a month. I sat there, I'm like, I can't. I can't do no Mike. But he like, yo, you got to use the bathroom. You got to walk. We got to see all of these, the different changes, right? I'm like, okay, cool. I talked to my son on the phone and started saying my name. That's all the motivation I needed. I. I'm getting out the Bed now. They had a little. They built a little machine for me to urinate in. Nah, I took it off. I want to walk to the bathroom. Get up. I walk to the bathroom. They like, how do you feel? I'm like, I feel good, but in my mind, I'm feeling weak, right? Been a week. I'm like, all right. They like, eat. I'm forcing myself to eat now. Cause, like, I gotta get home. Gotta get home to my son. So then the eighth day in the hospital, the head doctors came down there. They like, Mr. Feldon. I said, yeah, he used the bathroom. I said, yeah, I used the bathroom already. They're like, okay, can you walk? I got up out my bed, started walking while they on each side of me guiding me. He said, okay. He sit down. He was like, you ready to go home? I said, yeah. He said, why? I said, I'm waiting. My son is waiting for me. He said, okay. Call your family and tell them, bring your stuff. You can go home. [00:15:46] Speaker A: Nice. [00:15:47] Speaker B: I called my mother. I said, mom, bring my stuff. I'm going home. She's screaming on the phone, oh, you're not going nowhere. They said, you gonna be in there for a month. This. I said, mom, well, call the hospital, the doctor, so I could go home. She called. They said, he's released. We releasing him. Everybody's still trying to figure out how did I come home so fast. So my mother came, they gave me the clothes. The doctor, he like, you know, I had to come meet you. You Superman. I'm like, I don't consider that. He said, the same day you got shot, he said, five. Five other people got shot, too. Within blocks radius. And you the only one that looked good walking out this hospital. So I'm like, you just telling me this because I'm leaving? He's like, nah. He said, one died. He said, 1. 2 is in sedated, in critical condition right now, and one is handcuffed to the bed. Don't know if they gonna make it or not. He's saying, look at you. You walking out this hospital. I'm like, okay. He said, but before you leave, we gotta take you downstairs so we could do an eye examination. I'm like, okay, cool. They take me downstairs now. My eyes were reacting to light. Every time the light hit it, it's hurt. So they put a sheet over my head to take me downstairs. Now they doing an eye test. I'm laughing, I'm joking. And then he came. They like, yeah, we don't see no. No activities going on. We don't even think he gonna see again. I'm like, excuse me. What you mean I'm not going to see it? You're like, I don't. You don't think you're going to see again? So my cousin at the time, she like, we not taking that for answer. They don't know what they talk about. Just discharge him. You going to take him home? We going to go to the best eye doctor, like, all right, no problem. I go home. It just felt different from walking up these stairs for 21 years to walking up these stairs. Being visually impaired was different, right? It just like I'm walking into somewhere that's new, you know? You ever been somewhere and it's like your body just feel different? Like it never been here before. That feeling, that weird feeling, it felt. I'm walking up the stairs and it felt like these. The first time I walked up these stairs, and I've been living here for 21 years. Then I'm walking up the stairs and it just feel weird. It's like I'm taking my time. Normally, I'm running up these stairs, I'm taking my time. Cause now it's like I gotta rebuild my lungs back over, like, breathing and everything. So it's like, okay, get upstairs. And it's just, damn. I gotta navigate being blind. Like, they helping me. And it's like, been doing this for 21 years now. I'm being navigated through the house, right? Sand down. It's like I'm still processing it, still new. So then the pain start kicking in. I'm just. I'm trying to fight not to take the pill because my son is on his way. That's the only thing I kept saying is my son is on his way. The pain just kept hitting me till I couldn't bear it no more. I took the Percocet. And soon as I took it, my son rang the bell, came upstairs. I'm in the room. They had my eyes wrapped up. My son came in, came to the door, and he looked at me, and I'm like, zamir, come here. And he would not come. I'm like, zamir, it's me. Come here. He would not come. So then I'm like, I'm taking this off. I'm taking this off my face, right? My mother like, nah, nah, I'm taking this off. He don't recognize me. Unwrapped my eyes. He looked once I. He seen it off my face. He ran straight to me, picked him up. We playing. He sitting on my lap. We joking. He hugging me, he kissing me. The next you know, the pills start kicking in, right? But now I'm like, ma, I gotta put him down. I put him down. Now it's like, it's regular time. He not understanding what's going on. He one years old. So he back. He running around. He's playing and everything. I just laid down my mother, you all right? I'm like, I'm all right. But it's like that pill was taking over, taking over everything. Closed my eyes, went to sleep. Then I woke back up, he was gone. So now I'm sitting at the edge of the bed, and it's like, this life is different for me. I'm like, what's wrong? I said, I want to wash up. I felt nasty. I want to wash up. Like, all right, cool. Go in the bathroom. So now my right arm was in operating. It was dead. I'm sitting out there. I'm like, I don't know how I'm gonna wash myself right now. I'm in the bathroom. I'm crying. She like, what's wrong? I'm like, can't wash myself. Like, all right, get in the tub. And I said, get in the tub and do what? She said, get in the tub. I'm gonna wash you up. I said, ma, I understand it, like, you not washing me up. She said, boy, I seen you. I changed your diaper. I seen it. I said, that was 21 years ago, though. It's a different. It's different now. Don't play with me. I'm like, all right. She ran the tub. I got in the water, and I'm just sitting up there. I'm just crying. I'm like, yo, this. This can't be my life. This can't be came. She said, hey, take this towel. Put it over you. I'm just looking. I said, ma, my little brother was 11 at this time. I said, CJ, come in here. Wash me, please. Please. She was mad, but I'm like, ma, you just like. She said, oh, but if it was your girlfriend, you wouldn't have had no problem doing. Yeah, that's my girlfriend. It's different. You my mother? [00:21:25] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:21:26] Speaker B: My little brother came in there. He washing me up, and I'm just crying. He like, yo, what's wrong? And I'm like, nothing. But it's like, the fact that my little brother gotta wash me up, right? Felt different. Then he washed my back, he washed my chest. He washed under my. He like, you got the rest? Cause I'm not washing everything else. I'm Like, I don't want you to. He left out the bathroom. I maintained the wash up, right came out. And it's like my. They. They greasing me. Greasing my body and everything. And it just. It just felt weird. Cause it's like I'm so independent. I laid down and just trying to just process it. [00:22:01] Speaker A: But I was like, this is your first night home? [00:22:05] Speaker B: First night home, yeah. First night home. My grandmother cooked whole soul food dinner. Me coming home. But I couldn't enjoy it. [00:22:13] Speaker A: Right. [00:22:13] Speaker B: I had no taste. [00:22:15] Speaker A: Wow. [00:22:15] Speaker B: I had no taste. My taste was gone for at least five, six months. [00:22:19] Speaker A: Wow. [00:22:19] Speaker B: My taste and my smile. [00:22:21] Speaker A: But it obviously came back, right? [00:22:23] Speaker B: It definitely came back. Yeah. I had to take. I had to take fish oil pills to strength to strengthen it. They say your eyes, your nose, your mouth, your. Your nose, that they all connected. [00:22:37] Speaker A: So this is. Go ahead. I'm sorry. [00:22:38] Speaker B: So being that when I got shot on the side of my head, it. It kind of like, like brushed against the other nerves and took it out. [00:22:47] Speaker A: Right. [00:22:48] Speaker B: For that moment, five or six months, I couldn't taste or smell. [00:22:52] Speaker A: So that's night. Day one, night one. Which was hell. [00:22:58] Speaker B: I assume it wasn't hell because it was still processing it. It's like my girlfriend came over with her daughter, which is like my daughter. Like I raised her. [00:23:07] Speaker C: She. [00:23:08] Speaker B: She's 15. It was just the first night. I'm just processing. I wasn't alone the next day. Day two. Waking up, waking up to breakfast, waking up to family. It's like I'm never alone, right? So it's like I'm not feeling it. I'm not feeling it. [00:23:25] Speaker A: Right. When did it. The reality set in that this is what your life is three to four days later. Yeah. [00:23:33] Speaker B: And I'm looking. I was looking for something and then I got frustrated. And I'm looking at my drawers and it's like they clean. They cleaned up my room the way they wanted to clean out it up, not the way I had it. So I'm looking for stuff. I can't find it. I'm looking, I'm looking. They like, what you looking for? And I'm just not saying that. I'm just. And it's like it really kicked it. I'm really blind. Hey, look what you looking for? And I'm not saying nothing to a point. I just got mad. I just knocked everything off the dresser. And they was like. I'm like, why is y' all touching my stuff? And they was like, he just trying to help you. I said, nah, Helping me is stop touching it. [00:24:07] Speaker A: Right, Right. [00:24:08] Speaker B: Stop touching it. But it was new for everybody. It's like, they not. [00:24:11] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. [00:24:12] Speaker B: They not expecting. They like, yo, but we didn't want you to trip over this. They were. I'm like, it's new. So it's like. Then my sleeping pattern is starting to change. When everybody sleep, I'm up. So it's like, when you up, you by yourself and got nothing but time just to think. [00:24:27] Speaker A: Well, that's. That's. You know what? I didn't think about that. So you. You. Did you see light at this point, or was it just nothing? So you didn't know if it was day or night? [00:24:38] Speaker B: I know. [00:24:38] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:24:39] Speaker B: Night. My body didn't know what it was exactly. Everybody up and moving around. I'm sleep, right? When everybody sleep, I'm up. [00:24:46] Speaker A: And how long did it take you to accept that that's your reality of being blonde? [00:24:53] Speaker B: Yeah, it took me eight years. [00:24:56] Speaker A: Eight years. [00:24:57] Speaker B: Eight years. I've been blocked for 13. It took me eight years. [00:24:59] Speaker A: And did you start. You know, when did you start leaving your apartment? Because, you know, this is New York City. [00:25:07] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:25:08] Speaker A: Are you in Brooklyn, too, still? Are you still. [00:25:09] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm still in Brooklyn. [00:25:10] Speaker A: So when did you start exploring the city? You know, as someone who was blind? [00:25:18] Speaker B: Then, like, the first week I'm home, I went outside, but, like, I went outside with family. I ain't go outside by myself. And I. They took me to church. They took me to church. I'm in church and, like, I'm just backing house. I didn't feel safe outside. [00:25:33] Speaker A: Right. [00:25:34] Speaker B: It's like something. It was just. I was paranoid. Did a little. A balloon pop. [00:25:39] Speaker A: Understood. [00:25:39] Speaker B: I fall on the floor. [00:25:40] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:25:40] Speaker B: Thinking that they shoot, like, little sound, little sound effects just threw me off. I'm like, all right, I gotta go in the house. Fourth of July was the worst. [00:25:50] Speaker A: Oh, wow. [00:25:51] Speaker B: The worst. My first Fourth of July, I was losing my mind. My mother, like, it's all right. It's all right. I'm like, no, I gotta go in the house. So she driving me home, and I'm just hearing the firecrackers popping. I'm jumping, just standing. She look and just, like, I started crying. And she, like. My little sister looked at me. She said, I never seen him like this. I never seen him like, wow. It's not like I'm the oldest, so it's like, I'm the strongest. So it's like. She's like, I've never seen him like this. [00:26:17] Speaker A: In New York on the 4th of July is all night. [00:26:20] Speaker B: All night. [00:26:21] Speaker A: It's days prior, days after it's went upstairs. [00:26:24] Speaker B: Cut that TV on, cut the air conditioner on, Trying to block as much noise as I can. And. And I'm like, I ain't going outside on the fourth July no more. The sound sounds too much like guns. I can't do it. [00:26:35] Speaker A: So when did you feel comfortable leaving your. Your home and walking around the block? Or how long did it take you to go even go further by yourself? [00:26:45] Speaker B: Oh, I just started moving around by myself. Thanks to what? [00:26:52] Speaker A: Oh, really? Really? [00:26:53] Speaker B: Yeah, I never. I never was moving around. I always had to move around with somebody because it's like, they're like, you want a CNI dog? I'm like, yeah, that dog is cool. But that dog can't tell me when danger coming my way. Then I'm like, is this dog vicious? And they're like, ah, this dog don't got a vicious bone in their body. I said, so I'm just walking around cleaning up doodle. I'm like, keep your dog. Keep your dog. They're like, nah, we got pretty dogs. We got pit bulls this, that. I love pits. But this pit can't protect us. We both gonna be running. [00:27:27] Speaker A: That's funny. [00:27:28] Speaker B: Keep y' all dog. I'd rather walk around with my brother or a friend or something. [00:27:32] Speaker A: Did you wolf tell the story? He got bit by a dog recently. [00:27:35] Speaker B: Who? [00:27:35] Speaker A: Wolf. You almost got bit by dog inside my last podcast. He got bit by a dog? Yeah, just a little dog. He was walking down the street just a few weeks ago. [00:27:44] Speaker B: It was about to be a wolf and dog fight. Huh? Yeah. [00:27:48] Speaker A: That's hilarious. Wow. So have you been on the subway? [00:27:54] Speaker B: Yeah, I've been on subway, yeah. [00:27:55] Speaker A: And how do you feel about the subway? [00:27:57] Speaker B: I don't like. Yeah, I don't like it. It's too much going on on the subway. I don't like it. [00:28:02] Speaker A: I was wondering how it got people. [00:28:04] Speaker B: Out of their minds on the subways. God, it's just. It's not for me. I take a cab anywhere, right. I call my accessorize anywhere. I am not getting on no public transportation. [00:28:15] Speaker A: That's a lot. I mean, just in general. Just do the steps, everything. [00:28:18] Speaker B: Ah, the steps and all that don't bother me is the people. Yeah, it's the people. Then it be crowded. They want to lean on you. [00:28:24] Speaker A: And yeah, they don't realize that you are blind. [00:28:27] Speaker B: Now they. They be knowing. It's just. I'm like, nah, this ain't fun. Yeah, yeah, this ain't this ain't for me, especially knowing the seats. It's three seats, and it's. It's a little space. Somebody trying to squeeze. [00:28:38] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:28:39] Speaker B: I'll be like, I. I gotta get up. I gotta get this train. My anxiety start to kick in. I gotta get up this train. [00:28:45] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:28:46] Speaker B: It ain't it. And then it's hot, and we all on top of each other, like, come on. I'm like, nah, I gotta get up. [00:28:49] Speaker A: Did you ever do it, try it by yourself after you get on the train? [00:28:52] Speaker B: I would never get on the train by myself. [00:28:54] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:28:56] Speaker B: They not gonna have me on the news. They would never catch me on the train by myself. [00:29:00] Speaker A: Oh, this is hilarious. [00:29:02] Speaker B: Too many people. Like, I, I did. I. I rode on a train with the stick, with the lady lady that was teaching me mobility. But she like, you. You seem uncomfortable. I'm like, yeah, I am uncomfortable. [00:29:13] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:29:14] Speaker B: But we did it in the daytime. It was. It wasn't crowded. That's a good thing. But then I tried it to get on a bus. I'm like, all right, next stop, I'm getting off. We catching the cab. This ain't it. [00:29:25] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, I mean, I, I. I completely feel like I understand what you're saying. I mean, it's, it's a. I mean, I couldn't imagine myself not being able to see and just walking if, you know, outside my apartment building, you know. Do you walk around your block at all? Do you? [00:29:41] Speaker B: Yeah, like, around my neighborhood. Everybody know me. I'm comfortable over there. So it's like going from driving, driving everywhere. Everywhere I went, I drove right to now. Trying to get on a public transportation. I'm not doing it. [00:29:56] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:29:56] Speaker B: I rather walk if it's close by. I walk before I jump on the bus. [00:30:00] Speaker A: Right. [00:30:01] Speaker B: I'm like, nah, let's walk. [00:30:02] Speaker A: But you will jump on the bus. [00:30:04] Speaker B: It must. Depending on what time of the day it is. [00:30:06] Speaker A: Oh, wow. [00:30:07] Speaker B: When it's empty. Yeah. We get on the bus. [00:30:09] Speaker A: Wow, that's impressive. [00:30:10] Speaker B: Rush hour and everything. Be not. [00:30:12] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:30:13] Speaker B: Nah. [00:30:13] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:30:13] Speaker B: It's too many people. Then it's rude. You got book bags or kids with their book bags on their back and they don't say, excuse you. They bumping you. I'm like, no, I think it ain't. It ain't made for me. [00:30:25] Speaker A: Yeah, you're right. [00:30:26] Speaker B: We in New York City. Yeah. It's not. It's not made for me. [00:30:31] Speaker A: Gosh, I don't even know how to ask this with electronics. [00:30:36] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:30:37] Speaker A: Are there things that you use that we Wouldn't think of with that. That we. That you use now since you're blind. [00:30:44] Speaker B: Electronic wise to. To be honest, I just realized I was blind before that. I can't tell you. I didn't. I couldn't tell you about a stick. I couldn't tell you about what apps blind people use. I couldn't tell you nothing about none of that. [00:31:00] Speaker A: Do people ever try to help you, like, on this, like, strangers on the street or something? Or say, you know, like, say. Maybe like, say you're walking around the neighborhood and you have your stick like, you have right here. Do people ever try to help me? Yeah, I try to help you or anything all the time. Yeah. And you're cool with that? You appreciate that? [00:31:16] Speaker B: I'm open to it. [00:31:17] Speaker A: Yeah. Very cool. One time there was a guy just a few weeks ago who was blind, and he got off the subway, and he was like, can someone help me up the stairs? I don't know where this. Where I am. And I'm like, okay, just come with me. Let's go. [00:31:28] Speaker B: That's. That's the most important thing for a blonde person. Can't be scared to X file, right? [00:31:34] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:31:35] Speaker B: You got to be open to help. Otherwise you won't be stuck somewhere. You won't be lost somewhere. So it's like, I'm not scared to FaceTime somebody and be like, what is this? When. What money is this? What's this? Like? I'm not. I'm not scared to do it. Before, I used to contemplate, like, I ain't calling nobody. I'm going to just deal with it. I'm not. I get on everybody nerves. Can you do this for me? You do that for me? Like, I accept it, so y' all got to accept it too. This is what y' all wanted, right? [00:32:03] Speaker A: Right. [00:32:04] Speaker B: Like, especially walking in the streets and everybody out there, please, if you see me walking with the st. And you see doodle coming towards me, please help me around it. [00:32:12] Speaker A: That's a really good point. [00:32:15] Speaker B: I. I will die if I step in. Dude, I'm leaving my sneakers there. [00:32:19] Speaker A: Yeah. You know what, Chris? I'm so glad you said that, because if I now I'm gonna be aware of that, you know? [00:32:26] Speaker B: Yeah. People like, oh, your nose should be strong. You can. I can't smell doodle. [00:32:30] Speaker A: Right? Yeah. [00:32:31] Speaker B: Please just navigate me around it. I lose my mind if I step in it. [00:32:36] Speaker A: Wow, that's like. That's a really good point. [00:32:37] Speaker B: It was like that even when I could see that picture. Now can't see. I'd be nervous. I just wish people would pick up behind their dog even more now. [00:32:46] Speaker A: Yeah, that's true. [00:32:48] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:32:48] Speaker A: You know, I'm gonna be really aware of that. More aware of that, too, because, you know, there are. There are a lot of people. There are a lot of blind people in New York City. [00:32:55] Speaker B: You know what the crazy thing about it is? I don't run into a lot. [00:32:59] Speaker A: You don't. Hey, have you. Have you reached out to any. Any other people who are blind? You know, just for advice or just to see what their experience has been? [00:33:07] Speaker B: I went to, like, a support group at the Helen Kellen, right? I was just in there talking. I was in there for about. I think it was eight weeks we was in there. But it's like, it was hard for me to accept it. Cause I'm in there with a whole. It was about, hey, 15 of us. But it's like, I'm the only one that lost my sight through gun violence, right? Trauma. Everybody was born like this. Or either diabetes took their vision. So it was like, I'm just in there, and it's like, you never seen the colors. You never seen color before. You never drove a car. You never really seen a life that I seen. How can we compare our life to each other? And then it's like they was laughing, they joking and everything. And I'm just sitting up there. And the instructor, she was like, no, Chris was wrong. And I sat there and said, I'm just sorry. Like, I'm sorry that I feel like I'm the party poo poo, but I just can't relate to y' all. And she's like, why is that? And I'm like, how many of y' all know what the color red look like? And everybody couldn't answer. I said, I seen for 21 years, y' all never seen a day in your life. It's like, I can't relate. I feel like I can't relate to y' all. And she's like, why is that? I said, my vision was taken away from me. It was a big difference. She said, yeah, I understand. I said, so it's like y' all used to this. Like, y' all don't care to see because y' all never seen nothing before. Y' all living life perfectly. Don't get me wrong. Y' all want to see. Y' all want to see how it feels to see the world, but it's not really bothering y' all the way it's bothering me. I got a whole kid out here. I would Love to see his face. That, that's graduating, that go to prom, that's growing, that's playing sports, that need me to teach him how to ride a bike. So it's like we in two different worlds right now. [00:35:04] Speaker A: Wow. You know, I was just gonna ask you too. It's a different experience. I see what you're saying. Because, you know, people who were blind from birth, they use their hands to see and feel. That's how they know how. That's how they visualize whoever they're, you know, their family members, wherever they touch their faces and stuff. But you. [00:35:22] Speaker B: That's a stereotype too. Like blind people touching the face doesn't work. Yeah, that. That, you know, we don't touch base. Yeah, that's like weird touching somebody face and everything. But a lot of people always tell me that the first thing people say, touch my face so you can see how I feel. I look. [00:35:36] Speaker A: Why? Well, I wouldn't think of asking you that. But I mean, you know, but that's the. I guess. But I mean, you see that. So people blind, like people born from birth, don't do that. [00:35:46] Speaker B: Blind power. We just. We use our imaginations. Wow. [00:35:50] Speaker A: So your memory of your son is from. He's one year old. [00:35:53] Speaker B: And that's the. That's the picture I keep in my head. I lose that picture, I might lose how my son look. Oh, I keep that picture in my head. [00:36:03] Speaker A: Oh, well, you see your son often then, right? [00:36:07] Speaker B: My son live with me. [00:36:08] Speaker A: Oh, yes. Well, so you do. But I guess, you know, like. Like what I just said, you see your son often. How does you know. Is that the wrong thing to say to. [00:36:15] Speaker B: You still say that when people come with, you know, I'm watching basketball and they. And they get quiet. They're like, you really watching basketball? I'm like, yeah, I'm watching basketball. [00:36:23] Speaker A: That's awesome. [00:36:25] Speaker B: I don't change my terminology, the way I talk, because I'm. I'm visually. I don't do that. [00:36:31] Speaker A: You know, I was thinking too of asking you, you know, what do you miss seeing the most? I'm sure your son was probably going to be at the top of the list. [00:36:39] Speaker B: My kids, right. My knee. I got nieces and nephews I'd never seen before. [00:36:44] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:36:44] Speaker B: Never seen them before. But they, they fills my heart with joy. And it's like I would do anything in the world just to see them again. [00:36:52] Speaker A: Right. [00:36:52] Speaker B: Just to see them. I can't even say again just to see them. [00:36:55] Speaker A: Right. [00:36:56] Speaker B: I could see them one time just like, just give me vision 24 hours. Let me just see them. And you could take it back again. I'm. I'm. I'll be satisfied with it. Yeah, I'll be satisfied. Like, people ask, why is it. I just need that picture again. Like, my son, he was small. My son got dreads. He tall. Now it's like, I just need that up to date picture. You give me that up to date picture, you can take my vision back. I got a mission to complete, and that's being the voice for the disabled people. So it's like, I'm cool with that. Let me just see my nephews, my nieces that I'd never seen before. I'm cool with that. Taking it back 24 hours. And I know what my purpose is. My purpose of being here is bigger than me seeing. It's being a voice to visually impeded people. People that's in wheelchairs that don't have no voice. I am that voice a lot of people be scared to talk about. I'm an open book. I do things that an average disabled person won't do. [00:37:53] Speaker A: Like. What do you mean? [00:37:54] Speaker B: I rode a dirt bike. [00:37:57] Speaker A: Oh, really? [00:37:57] Speaker B: Yeah. The hoverboard that was out. [00:38:00] Speaker A: You do that? [00:38:01] Speaker B: I got on the hoverboard and spin me and flipped me off, but I did it. [00:38:05] Speaker A: I won't even do that. [00:38:06] Speaker C: Yeah. I don't think. [00:38:07] Speaker B: I gotta live life. [00:38:08] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:38:09] Speaker B: Gotta live life. [00:38:11] Speaker A: Well, I don't. You can't see me. I'm getting older. [00:38:12] Speaker B: I jumped in a wall. [00:38:13] Speaker A: My phone's a break. [00:38:16] Speaker B: At least you can say you did it. [00:38:17] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:38:18] Speaker B: I went to Puerto Rico. I was willing to jump off the cliff. [00:38:21] Speaker A: You did that? [00:38:22] Speaker B: I was, but the person I was with, she was. She wasn't with it. [00:38:26] Speaker A: Wow. [00:38:26] Speaker B: But I was willing to. I got. I'm on my second life. I'm gonna enjoy it. [00:38:30] Speaker A: Wow. [00:38:31] Speaker B: That's how I look at it. [00:38:32] Speaker A: What do you miss seeing in New York? The city itself, I should say. Like, is there anything you miss seeing in the city? [00:38:40] Speaker B: Females. I miss the females. I'm missing the summer days, seeing the females. Just like Labor Day. I miss all of that. [00:38:50] Speaker A: Right. [00:38:50] Speaker B: Being outside on Labor Day. Females just waking up Saturday mornings to go play basketball. I miss all of that. Just the sight. I miss everything. Like a color. I just miss a. I miss a butterfly, trees, things that I've never paid attention to. I miss it. [00:39:09] Speaker A: Wow. [00:39:10] Speaker B: I'll do anything to see it again. Like, things we like, things we take for granted. Being in my predicament you'll never take for granted Again, little things like seeing the grass grow, flowers, roses. I used to walk past that. I didn't care about no roses or none of that. A squirrel running. I would love to see a squirrel run. Thirteen years, I've never seen a squirrel run. I wish I could see that. Like, when I said I used to see straight cats and all that. Like, I never paid attention. Now they like, you don't see cats, like, out here on the streets no more. I said, you don't? And then it's like, our neighborhood is different. I used to walk out. I used to know what store was, what store. Now I'm walking, I'm like, ain't this the store? They like, no. And I'm arguing with them, like, no. Y' all bugging. He said, no, it's an ice cream shop now. [00:40:00] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. [00:40:01] Speaker B: And then I'm walking. I'm like, so what is this? And they telling me this. I'm like, so what's that? They tell him. I'm like, damn, my neighborhood changed. And then it's like I went into a depressed mode because, like, everything changed around me, right? And I'm. And I didn't know. [00:40:15] Speaker A: How do you feel about. Well, not how do you feel, but how do you handle. You know, New York City is a. A city of scaffolding here and there. Do. Do you encounter scaffolding where, you know, you get mad, you know, where you're like, you know, because there's so much scaffolding everywhere in the city, just in general. Is that a challenge sometimes? [00:40:33] Speaker B: No, it's not a challenge. I'm a New Yorker, so I was like, I'm used to it. Like, certain things that goes on here, something that goes on. New York, I'm used to it. It's like, I went to Miami, I went to Vegas and everything and been there for, like, four or five days. I'm dying to get back to New York. [00:40:49] Speaker A: Why? I don't. [00:40:51] Speaker B: I don't know what it is. It's just. I don't know. It's just the New York in me. I went down south to Charlotte. It's just too quiet. I'm like, I need to hear some sirens or something. [00:40:59] Speaker A: That's so great to hear. [00:41:00] Speaker B: Like, I need to hear something. I'm like, they like, what's wrong? I get back. I gotta get back home. Like, ain't no corner stores. You gotta drive everywhere. Nah, ain't no. That's what I loved about. I love about New York. You got corner stores. Everything is right there for you. [00:41:13] Speaker A: So you. You still love New York City. [00:41:15] Speaker B: I still love New York City. No matter what happened to me, I still love New York City. [00:41:19] Speaker A: It's amazing. My friend. [00:41:20] Speaker B: New York City made me the man I am today. So it's like I would never forget where I came from. Now I, you know, I get a little bit of money, I might move a little bit out of New York, like Dallas. You feel me? You know, I'm raising a king, so it's like, I can't have him in an environment where people might try to do what they did to me. [00:41:39] Speaker A: Damn right. [00:41:41] Speaker B: We gonna go to Long island gated community or Jersey. But, you know, we are hopping to skip away from New York. [00:41:46] Speaker A: Right. [00:41:47] Speaker B: It ain't far. [00:41:48] Speaker A: Right, Right. [00:41:48] Speaker B: Other than that, I love New York. [00:41:50] Speaker A: Yeah. Still the greatest city in the world. [00:41:52] Speaker B: New York make you tough. [00:41:53] Speaker A: It does. [00:41:54] Speaker B: Gotta have a strong mind to live in New York. A lot of people come to New York. They next. You know that you see them going right back to where they came from. They not a lot of people not built the bright lights in a big city. [00:42:06] Speaker A: Right. [00:42:06] Speaker B: How do people not. [00:42:08] Speaker A: And what people say, you know, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. [00:42:11] Speaker B: You can make it anywhere. [00:42:12] Speaker A: I think you're a prime example of that. Right. [00:42:14] Speaker B: Anyway. And no matter where you go, they. They know where. You a New Yorker, a New York person. [00:42:19] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:42:20] Speaker B: I went to Atlanta. Like, hey, you could. You smell like New York. I just laugh. I'm like, I feel good then. [00:42:25] Speaker A: Exactly. [00:42:26] Speaker B: I feel good. I don't got to tell you where I'm from. Y' all know it like. Like the way you walk, the way you talk, the way you act. Yeah, you. That's New York all the way in. You that talk with confidence. [00:42:37] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:42:37] Speaker B: I'm like, yeah, that's New York. [00:42:38] Speaker A: Yep. That's what I love about New York, too. [00:42:41] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:42:41] Speaker A: It's the best city in the world. [00:42:44] Speaker B: I agree. [00:42:44] Speaker A: Yep. [00:42:45] Speaker C: Where. Where in Bedside are you from? Yeah, I was born in Beth, Jose, Ralph and Patching. I was. We lived on McDonough Street. Oh, McDonough, near Nostrand Avenue. [00:42:59] Speaker B: Oh, a couple of blocks over. [00:43:00] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:43:01] Speaker B: I used to be over there, too. Yeah, I live on notion of prospect. [00:43:05] Speaker C: Oh, okay. Yeah, nice. [00:43:08] Speaker B: I used to play on. Play basketball on McDonough between Marcus Garvey and Lewis. 35. [00:43:14] Speaker C: That's cool. My dad. My dad was born. We had him on the show a few months ago. But Hughes grew up around there too. Yeah, that's cool to hear about, but. [00:43:24] Speaker B: Definitely raised all over there. 258 on Macon and Marcy. Block over from where you from? [00:43:32] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah. [00:43:34] Speaker B: Played in basketball tournaments and all that over there. [00:43:36] Speaker C: That's awesome. [00:43:37] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm not navigator. I don't need no GPS to move around Brooklyn. That memory is strong. I'm the blind gps. If you ask me what I know exactly where I'm going. I don't need nobody. Like, are you on this block? I know the blocks I'll be on. [00:43:54] Speaker C: Yeah. I keep it in mind. I'm really good at directions, and I navigate around the city and use it as a compass to be able to tell, like, where I am and where I'm going and all that stuff. So I. Navigation's like second nature to a New Yorker. [00:44:11] Speaker B: Yeah, that's how you had. My grandfather always told me, if you want to learn how to travel, get lost. [00:44:16] Speaker A: That's true. [00:44:17] Speaker B: Once you get lost and you make it back, you know how to travel. He always say, you going north, you know, you got to come back south. So therefore, like, you can never get lost. Like, my grandfather don't believe in no GPS, right? He about to be 80 years old. We go down south, and I'm like, yo, you ain't look at no gps, no map, no nothing. He like, once you get on that i95, I know where I'm at. I just go straight. I'm like, okay, that's right. Now when I do now when I used to drive, it's like, you know, I'm like. Only I hear is his voice be moving. We pushing. I'm like, yeah. They like, yo, you drove. You drove to Virginia and back all in one day. I did it in one day. Young. I can't. I don't know if I could do it now, you know? [00:44:59] Speaker A: But, yeah, take the train now, you know? [00:45:03] Speaker B: Nah, I'm getting on the plane. [00:45:05] Speaker A: Your plane? Yeah, definitely. Exactly. [00:45:07] Speaker B: I need to go in the sky. Come back down that train. Too long for me. [00:45:10] Speaker A: Hey, so have you flown, I assume, since you've lost your sight? [00:45:14] Speaker B: First time I got on a plane. [00:45:15] Speaker A: How's that feel? [00:45:16] Speaker B: First time getting on a plane, I was. Visually, I was blind. [00:45:18] Speaker A: Wow. [00:45:19] Speaker B: I never got on a plane before that. [00:45:20] Speaker A: Oh, really? [00:45:21] Speaker B: Never. [00:45:21] Speaker A: Interesting. [00:45:22] Speaker B: But the first time I got on the plane was very interesting because I'm nervous. [00:45:25] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:45:26] Speaker B: I'm getting on. I got butterflies in my stomach. They laughing at me because I'm nervous. I'm going to Vegas. My mama sending me to Vegas for my 25th birthday. [00:45:34] Speaker A: Wow. [00:45:35] Speaker B: I go, the plane take off. I'm like, oh, the whole plane laughing at Me. Then the turbulence. I'm like, wait, what's going on? They laughing at me. I'm like, what now? We had air pocket, the plane drifting. I'm like, whoa. The lady behind me, she said, yo, you made my whole flight. [00:45:53] Speaker A: Oh, that's awesome. [00:45:54] Speaker B: I said, man, I made your flight. I'm nervous. I'm scared up here. You told me I made your flight. She said, yo, your sound effects is crazy. [00:46:01] Speaker A: I'm like, oh, man, I need to fly with you. I'm not a big flyer, so I need to fly with you. [00:46:05] Speaker B: You fly with me, we skip the line. Yeah, maybe skip the line. [00:46:09] Speaker A: That was pretty cool. [00:46:10] Speaker B: Yeah, we don't gotta wait in no line. TS I need to save my best. [00:46:13] Speaker A: I'm taking a trip soon to Florida. So, you know. [00:46:14] Speaker B: In Florida? What part of Florida? [00:46:16] Speaker A: Well, going to southwest Florida, down by Fort Myers area. Inglewood. And then my twin brother. I have identical twin brother who lives in the Miami area and also in the Big Pine Key, which is towards the top of the Keys. [00:46:33] Speaker B: So I love Miami. [00:46:34] Speaker A: Yeah, it's a great city. I worked there, too. I worked right next to the Clevelander. I don't know if the Clevelander is still there. I know. I should drive. Um, it was a sister store to planet Hollywood. Hollywood. Back in the day. All Star Cafe back in the day. But you're. [00:46:50] Speaker B: Yeah, I was on South Beach. Yeah, I love Miami. [00:46:53] Speaker A: That's it. [00:46:53] Speaker B: But one thing I can honestly say, different from other places than New York. New York is rude. Other places, you could bump their little. Sorry. Don't worry about it. It's okay. He hold the dogs. Hey, no problem, bud. Like, New York is not like that at all. [00:47:08] Speaker A: Oh, 100. [00:47:09] Speaker B: Not like that at all. They'll bump you up like, watch where you going. And this. Nah. Miami. I went to Vegas. I went to Atlanta. Just so generous and nice. [00:47:20] Speaker A: Like, that's so funny. I have this conversation often. [00:47:24] Speaker B: Yeah. They pulling seats out for you to sit down. And do you need one? One person, actually. Do they want me? Do I want them to cut my chicken tenders up? I'm like, nah, I'm all right. I'm not used to it. I'm like, you want to cut my chicken tenders up? No. I'm like, nah, it's okay. Then they taking my hand out. This is the soda, and this is the napkin. New York, they just gonna put your food on the table and keep it pushing. [00:47:46] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:47:49] Speaker B: Yeah. That's why I love it. Keep you on your toes. I'm like, all right, let me Fill. [00:47:53] Speaker A: On this table about anything. [00:47:54] Speaker B: Let me fill on this table for this serpent. [00:47:56] Speaker A: I hop they don't want you. Like, you're bothering me, kid. You know, everybody in the room here, you know, Yeah, I went to Puerto Rico. [00:48:02] Speaker B: They like, you want me to pull a syrup on your wife on your pancakes? And do you want me to cut your pancakes up? New York, they drop the table like, enjoy. Let me know if you need me again. [00:48:11] Speaker A: Yep. [00:48:12] Speaker B: I'm like, damn. You're like, what a surf pack. [00:48:14] Speaker A: When I got blind, they're like, yeah, I got my own problems, you know? [00:48:17] Speaker B: Yeah. I'm like, yo, with a sur pack, like, with a spoon, with a fork at, like, man, they go about their way. That's one thing I can honestly say. Going out of town in New York. Yeah, New York. Gotta stay on your toes, man. I gotta use my hands out here in New York. Other places, man, they make sure I get right. [00:48:33] Speaker A: That's hilarious. I love hearing that. You know, that's New York for you. [00:48:36] Speaker B: But I love New York. [00:48:37] Speaker A: Are there any smells or flavors, you know, in general that stand out to you now that you can't see anymore? [00:48:47] Speaker B: Oh, smell some good food. [00:48:49] Speaker A: Yeah, smell some good food. [00:48:51] Speaker B: Some good soul food. Collard greens and the ribs, the chicken. My mother called, like she doing a cookout. I'll be the first over there waiting for something to come off the grill. That just the smell of that is just good. Like. Like just walking into my mother house to smell my mother house. I feel like I'm home. [00:49:09] Speaker A: Oh, nice. [00:49:10] Speaker B: So it's like certain smells is like, I can never forget. [00:49:15] Speaker A: Do you have any advice you'd give someone who is blind visually appeared? [00:49:19] Speaker B: Don't give up. [00:49:21] Speaker A: Don't give up. [00:49:21] Speaker B: You give up, it's over. You give up, it's going to be hard to come back from it. Don't give up distrusting yourself. Like, let your ears be your vision. Let your hands be a vision. Like, don't be like me. I took eight years just to accept being blind. Like, I'm not telling you. Accept it right then and there, right away, but work on it. Don't be naive to it. Keep pushing towards. The more you push away from this stick, the more you setting yourself back. Like, just believe in yourself. Don't sit around and just thinking life is over. It's more out there to it. And that's why I feel like I'm the perfect person for it because I'm showing people there's no limit. I'm doing parties, I'm doing podcasts. I'm working on a book right now. Me and Wolf talk about working on audio series like, I Can't Stop Moving. Tell us about your podcast, Blind Banasi Podcast. First, it started out me just walking people through the life of me getting shot, adjusting to it, mental health. At one point in time, I tried to commit suicide. I'm walking people through that. I'm walking people through, like, how my whole attitude changed from being this nice person, smiling, to forget, like, losing who I am, forgetting who I am. Like, not wanting to be alive, not wanting to be around nobody because I felt the people I was around, I was hurting. There was times I felt like my life would. Their life would be better without me. Then you start seeing me navigating to me, smiling, becoming who I am today. Then I started bringing other people on to tell about their life, like Blahbin. Now I see. Like, we always blind at one point in our life, whether it was a girl, whether it's a job that we know we overstayed, I welcome that. But. [00:51:13] Speaker A: Right. [00:51:14] Speaker B: What did you do to see that? All right, let me get up and just start my own business. I know this girl. I know this man. Ain't for me. Let me get up and leave and walk. They setting my life back. So I start opening my podcast to different things. The next thing you know, I looked. I linked up with the best producer in New York City. Then we started brainstorming. Then he started bringing guests. And then a podcast started growing. Like, we all blind Steppers. Like, I go by the official blind Stepper. One day, me and Wolf is in the ca. We in the cab going, going home, and it's like, blind step. It don't mean you blind. It's mean you walking with faith, not by sight. So I'm like, damn, I'm not just a blind stepper. Like, y' all started this podcast. Y' all Blind Steppers. Like, y' all didn't think this podcast was gonna work. Y' all didn't know what they. Which I expect, right? But y' all walked out of faith, not by sight. I didn't wait to see y' all just move. [00:52:10] Speaker A: Wow. [00:52:11] Speaker B: So you're a blind Stepper. [00:52:12] Speaker A: I love it. [00:52:13] Speaker B: Oh, my, my big man, you gotta do DNA to see if we related. [00:52:17] Speaker A: You're Blind Stepper. [00:52:19] Speaker B: Feel me. Like, break it down. Like, we all blind stuff in some ways, somehow. We all been blind once upon a time in our life. It's just, I'm physically blind, but it's a time that everybody in the studio been mentally blind, right? And didn't know where the light was at. Didn't know if they was going to see again, to come out, whatever they was going through. [00:52:40] Speaker A: That's very true. You know, I. I completely makes sense to me because I went through, you know, some tough times, but had I not gone through those, I would not be those tough times. I would not be in New York City today. [00:52:53] Speaker B: See, you're a blast. [00:52:54] Speaker A: Yeah, that makes. That really clicked with me. Really makes sense. [00:52:58] Speaker B: Yeah. Blasted, jumped out with faith. [00:53:00] Speaker A: That's true. That's very true. [00:53:02] Speaker B: And then if you could, you would never. You would never. You wouldn't do it different. You'll do it the same. If you had a chance to do it again. [00:53:10] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. [00:53:12] Speaker B: Blindstepper. I don't like. I don't regret being blind. I'm not sorry for being blind. This is my mission. Why? Because now I'm blind. I talk. I go on Instagram. My head, I see other blonde people. Yo, you motivational. Oh, hi. I've been blind for 20 years. I'm motivating you. I've been blind for 13. Oh, I just told me I'm the coolest blonde person they ever seen. [00:53:42] Speaker A: I think you are, too. Also. How do you. How do you. How does social media work for you? Do like you. Like you said, you know, you see other blind people. I know that's just a bigger speech that you use, but how does it work for you? How do you navigate your social media? [00:53:57] Speaker B: I'm going to give you a little sample. Give y' all a little sample. See, all I gotta say is, Siri, read notifications. You have new notifications from LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and six others. [00:54:10] Speaker A: Here are the seven from LinkedIn. [00:54:12] Speaker B: New content, Nike, Vice President, GM Nike. [00:54:17] Speaker A: Wow. I can say, look, that's pretty cool. [00:54:19] Speaker B: Yeah. Who. [00:54:22] Speaker A: See, you're educating us. [00:54:23] Speaker B: Three messages from Zadala Sadala said, going. [00:54:27] Speaker A: To my mother job. [00:54:28] Speaker B: Going to my mother job. Read messages from Bubs. Bub said, love you forever. [00:54:38] Speaker A: I'm at school. [00:54:39] Speaker B: I'm at school. I forgot to tell you. And sorry. My daughter. Oh, can't miss nothing. [00:54:45] Speaker A: That's pretty cool. You know, you're teaching us a lot of interesting stuff. [00:54:50] Speaker B: You got it. I mean, it's like, it would have been better if I. If I was able to prepare for this. Yeah, it just got snatched and it just threw me out there, so it's like I was forced to move quicker. I got to work 10 times harder just to sit just stand next to y' all. [00:55:08] Speaker A: Right. [00:55:09] Speaker B: I ain't gonna lie. I think I'm moving 20 times. I might pass y' all. Y' all gotta catch up. Yeah, it's true, you know, but it's like, I never sleep. I want more. This the most I ever. Most work I ever did in my life. And I'm scared if I ever see again, I might lose that hustle, that drive. [00:55:28] Speaker A: Wow. I was just gonna ask you, do you feel like, you know, becoming blind just really obviously pushed you? [00:55:34] Speaker B: It made me hustle even more. I feel like if I could see, I might get distracted of what I'm really here to do. I can see I got other things that can distract me that I won't come to the studio, or I forget what I had in the works. Nah. When I'm in a dark, it's just me and this dog. I ain't rubbing elbows with nobody. My podcast is different from everybody's. I'm like, man, Wolf, we bounce off ideas, and it's like, not one time we trip over nothing. Wolf is in his own lane. I'm in my own lane. I can't be Wolf. Wolf can't be blonde papi, right? He's only one of me. It's one of him. I can't be Kelly. I can't. I can't do what y' all do, right? Like a podcast about New York. I can't talk about that. We from two different worlds, so it's like, I'm feeling comfortable where I'm at, right? So it's like, do I. People ask me all the time, do you want to see again? No, I don't, but you got to put me with the great Ray Charles. Stevie Wonder is me. Yeah, Ray Charles dead. Rest in peace, Stevie Wonder. You might as well move over to the side, because I'm like the Road Runner. I don't want to run you over. I'm taking over. This is my world. I'm a running. [00:56:45] Speaker A: I think it's just amazing and inspirational. You know, you went from the lowest point in your life and what you said you did try to take your own life. And do you feel right now you are happier than ever? [00:56:57] Speaker B: Happier than ever. My grandfather, he was like, I was so beating myself over because I work hard at becoming this EMT to drive the ambulance to save the world. He like, you don't understand what God just did for you. You bigger than that truck. You saving. You save. You're not just saving people in New York City. You saving people across the world. [00:57:20] Speaker A: Wow. [00:57:21] Speaker B: And I sat back and I thought, I'm like, damn, I'm really is. So it's like, why is I'm tripping over being on that truck again, Being paid minimum wage, killing myself, lifting people up and all that. Now I'm lifting people up with my voice. I set my own price. I ain't waiting for nobody to sign my check. I set my own price. You don't need me to come to where to talk. All right, cool. Gotta pay for travel, you gotta pay for hotel. Plus, this is my fees, right? Nah, I set my own check, set my own wages, got my own llc. Book me my check. You gotta put my LLC on my check, and then I could pay myself. And we move like that. This is the best ever. I feel like this is the best I ever been in life now. Like, not only I'm motivating the disabled people, I'm motivating my son. My son got a 93 average. [00:58:14] Speaker A: You're voting. [00:58:14] Speaker B: You're. [00:58:15] Speaker A: You're. You're motivating me. [00:58:17] Speaker B: Yeah. Everywhere I go, I mean, I'm doing. I'm doing my job. I'm uplifting somebody. I'm uplifting you. When you publish this episode, I might be uplifting somebody else. [00:58:27] Speaker A: Right? [00:58:27] Speaker B: Never know what a person. Like I always say to myself, I never. You never know what a person going through when you're in a room with them. It's us four in this room. I don't know what you're going through. I don't know what wolf going through. [00:58:40] Speaker A: Right. [00:58:41] Speaker B: I don't know what my brother going through. We all might be going through something that you probably like. This ain't the right time to talk about. Oh, you beating yourself inside. If I'm feeling sad, I'm gonna come on this podcast today. I'm feeling sad, y' all. I'm feeling like this, y' all. Oh, what happened? Oh, I stepped in duty, y' all. I'm pissed off. I tripped on the sidewalk. Nah, I'm gonna let y' all know how I feel. And that's why I encourage more people, too. Don't hold it in. This mental health, this mental health, we the number one people that always try to hide our emotions. I don't hide it no more. I tell you how I feel. If I'm feeling, I pick up the phone. Yo, mom, today is a bad day for me, right? Call my sister. Yo, today's a bad day for me because for so long, I looked at. I was looked at as a lion. My mother got four kids, so I was leading the pack. I'm the oldest. I was the strongest. So it's like, when I was hurting, they never knew because I. I hit it. Well, I used to be in the front laughing, joking with them, then go in the room and cry. Nah, Now I cry on the phone with them. Today's a bad day. What happened? Everything is going wrong. My Siri is not working for me. It's down for me. I'm using a house phone to call y' all every. I don't know. [00:59:56] Speaker A: You got a house phone? [00:59:57] Speaker B: Yeah, my grandma. [00:59:57] Speaker A: Wow. [00:59:58] Speaker B: Yeah. My grandmother ain't giving rid of that house. [01:00:01] Speaker A: That's pretty cool. [01:00:03] Speaker B: And nobody. I don't answer it. [01:00:05] Speaker A: Yeah, the phone, my mother. [01:00:06] Speaker B: You don't hear the phone ringing? I do not answer the phone. I got a cell phone. What am I answering the phone for? Like. But if I. I'm going through it, I don't hesitate. I tell the whole world I'm going through it. And everybody do. They run to my. They run to my side. Call my grandfather. I'm going through it. He started praying, oh, okay. I even called ex girlfriend. Oh, I'm getting on your nerves today. Cause I'm going through it. They accept it. Cause before, I was hiding it before, right? So me hiding it turned me into a monster. Nobody even wanted to be around me. Now I can't get rid of them. I'm like, y' all not ready to go home. Sometimes I be having to lock my door and leave them in the living room because they won't leave me alone. But I can smile about it. [01:00:51] Speaker A: That's true. [01:00:52] Speaker B: I'm living my life the way I want to live. [01:00:54] Speaker C: That's awesome. [01:00:55] Speaker A: Wow. [01:00:57] Speaker B: I make my own schedule. Nobody can't tell me what to do. Nah. Like, you know, I mean, people see my, oh, I watch your podcast. You need to do this, you need to do that. And I sit there, and I'd be like, if you knew all of this, why you ain't start a podcast? [01:01:10] Speaker A: Right? [01:01:11] Speaker B: And then they get quiet. [01:01:12] Speaker A: I completely understand, too. Just in social media in general, people have a lot of comments such as. [01:01:18] Speaker B: That, yeah, yo, you should have do this. You should do that. You should do this. Exactly why y' all got a podcast. [01:01:22] Speaker A: Yes, exactly. [01:01:24] Speaker B: I accept it. For a person that's sitting in the same seat, I'm saying, like, Wolf, like, yo, maybe we should do this. Maybe. Like, when I came in, I was fobc, and Wolf's like, nah, we need to drop that. [01:01:33] Speaker A: Right? [01:01:33] Speaker B: That's a podcast. To talking to a podcaster. I. I cherish his advice that he gave me. He behind that screen he know was best. And ever since I've been listening, my podcast number's been increasing. I take that. [01:01:47] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:01:47] Speaker B: But now I want to motivate the next person that's coming behind me to say, oh, I'm visually impaired. I can start a podcast. That's why I want to get into more visually. Like buying schools and everything is when it's all said and done, they got to put my picture in the building. [01:02:01] Speaker A: Right. [01:02:02] Speaker B: I need a big picture in the front, big bowl. [01:02:05] Speaker A: But, yeah, what's interesting, too, is you don't wear glasses or anything. Sunglasses. And your eyes are just still brown. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you can't tell you're blind, per se. [01:02:16] Speaker B: Nah, you can't. You know, before, I never used to walk around with this either. [01:02:20] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:02:20] Speaker B: People like, where your stick ass. Hey, don't go with my clothes. [01:02:23] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:02:25] Speaker B: Mess up my outfit. Yeah, like, you mess up your outfit. Yeah. How's messing up your outfit? I got on blue. I think it's white. It's throwing it off. It's red at the end. It's throwing it off. Nah, I can't do that now. I walk with it with pride. That's my best. That's my best friend. [01:02:40] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:02:41] Speaker B: Me and the stick gonna make a lot of money. [01:02:43] Speaker A: That's pretty cool. [01:02:43] Speaker C: Do you get different colored sticks? [01:02:45] Speaker B: Nah, but I'm working. I'm about to customize the stick, though. I'm gonna customize them. I'm a sell them. No, I want. I want. I mean, I want blonde to be cool. [01:02:57] Speaker A: You are making it cool. [01:02:58] Speaker B: I'm a blonde stepper. [01:02:59] Speaker A: And who. Who gets, like, that's a cool shirt. Like, where do you get those? [01:03:02] Speaker B: Like, like, stores. That's in best stuff. Like, I bought this from best off Fly. [01:03:08] Speaker A: Right. [01:03:08] Speaker B: Go on there. I feel on the clothes. They tell me what it says. [01:03:11] Speaker A: I was gonna ask you how you picked out your clothes. Yeah. [01:03:13] Speaker B: Oh, I go to the store, so I feel it. They put my hand on there. I'm like, okay. What that say? [01:03:16] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:03:17] Speaker B: Need more black men. I feel on the back. I'm like, okay, that's nice. I put on the counter. I'm buying that. I feel my pants, little ribs. Okay. I feel a bottom. Make sure it ain't boot cut. [01:03:27] Speaker A: Right. [01:03:27] Speaker B: See if it's boot cut slim. I'm like, all right. I feel it to see what type of material it is. Well, I like these. Put that on the counter. I feel the sneakers. They're like this. This color. This. This color. Now I'm imagining and putting the outfit Together in my head. [01:03:41] Speaker A: Wow. [01:03:42] Speaker B: All right. Nah, that's not. No, I don't like those. Go over there. I feel it. Yeah, I like these. Now I need a hat to go with it right Now. This is the New York Giants hat. Oh, this is the. The Nets had this. The Yankees. Hell. All right. I know how those hats look. Don't uncounted that. Now let's go. Wow. [01:04:00] Speaker A: That's pretty cool. [01:04:01] Speaker B: Yeah. Now it's like once I feel it one time, I know my clothes. So it's like when I'm washed, Like when I'm getting ready, I iron my own clothes. I know what I. From me feeling on it that one day, I know what it is. I know what color it is. [01:04:15] Speaker A: Right. [01:04:15] Speaker B: Nobody help me get dressed. I get myself dressed. [01:04:18] Speaker A: Wow. [01:04:18] Speaker B: People ask, oh, you wash up. Who wash you up? I wash up by myself. I iron my own clothes. I pick my own clothes out. I cook my own food. I run up and down the stairs by myself. I do it all. [01:04:31] Speaker A: That's pretty cool. [01:04:32] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:04:33] Speaker A: You know, this is New York. So do you have gas stove or. [01:04:36] Speaker B: Gas stove? [01:04:37] Speaker A: Got a gas stove. Yeah. I know, it's just a funny question, but, you know, I'm always so paranoid about leaving the burner on. [01:04:43] Speaker B: That's cool. [01:04:44] Speaker A: That's my biggest fear all the time. [01:04:45] Speaker B: Yeah. And I always double check when you gotta cut it off. [01:04:48] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:04:48] Speaker B: Season my own food, everything that's really cool. You got to. I don't want people just look at him. Like, when you see me being blind, it's like, oh, he need help. Nah, I only need help when I ask you for help. [01:05:05] Speaker A: Right. [01:05:06] Speaker B: I got this. [01:05:07] Speaker A: And you will ask too. [01:05:08] Speaker B: Yeah. Now if I need you. Yeah, I definitely. Yeah. But I don't want to walk down. I live on the fourth floor and I don't want to walk down the stairs. Oh. I try to use my blonde instead. Oh, can you please go down the stairs? I ain't gonna see the person they like. Yeah, okay. You lying. Why you lying for? I'm like, I ain't gonna. I ain't gonna see the person. They gonna make me want to come out the building they like. Yeah, okay. They don't go for it no more now. I used it up. They don't go for it now. [01:05:37] Speaker A: I love it. That's hilarious. [01:05:38] Speaker B: Yeah. But other than that, I live life. [01:05:41] Speaker A: I can tell. You're inspiring me. Really inspiring me. [01:05:44] Speaker B: Feel good to hear my son voice, to hear my daughter voice, to hear my mother voice, my grandparents. Like, I'm. I'm Living life. I look at it like, if I wasn't here, my mother probably would have been no good. My sisters would have been no good. My brother, who would have told my son how to grow up to be a man. [01:06:04] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:06:04] Speaker B: And that was my biggest challenge. Like, how can I teach him how to be a man? And I'm blind. I'm doing a good job, right? Helping with homework. We do projects together. I never missed a play. Never missed open school night. Never missed the graduation. I told my son how to ride a bike. Running behind him, holding on to the bike so he won't fall. [01:06:23] Speaker A: Wow. [01:06:24] Speaker B: My mother like, yo, you gonna fall. I don't care. [01:06:26] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:06:26] Speaker B: As long as he learned how to ride this bike, that's all that matters. [01:06:30] Speaker A: That's. I. I think I love that you and your son have an Austin. It sounds like you guys have a really good relationship. [01:06:34] Speaker B: That's my best friend. [01:06:35] Speaker A: That's incredible. I love it. [01:06:37] Speaker B: That's my best friend. Him and my daughter. My best friend. Those only two that could check. Nobody else, Only dude that could check. [01:06:44] Speaker A: Wow. Well, this was awesome talking with you, my friend. [01:06:48] Speaker B: I appreciate y' all. [01:06:49] Speaker A: Do you. Do you have anything else you want to add today or, you know, any final words of wisdom? [01:06:57] Speaker B: Live life hustle. There's always a better picture out there. You just gotta go find it. Even if you in that dark room, fill on the walls, it got a light switch to it. Sometimes we. We get stuck in a room with the lights off that we forget that it's really a Con Edison out here. [01:07:17] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:07:18] Speaker B: And be the landlord of your life. Sometimes you gotta like. Like I always say, you. I'm the Layla of my life. [01:07:25] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:07:26] Speaker B: I will evict a tenant if it's harming my. My mental health. And me as a person, if it's changing me. I'm gonna evict you. [01:07:35] Speaker A: Why? [01:07:35] Speaker B: Because I'm not gonna let you tear my life down. And I'm not gonna be good for the next person. I'm not gonna be good for my son. I live life in peace. I want everybody else to protect your peace. You the landlord of your life. Protect your peace. [01:07:48] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:07:49] Speaker B: You know who you want around? You know who you don't protect your peace. And don't give up no matter times get hard trust and believe there's more better days know what it is? People always used to the sunshine People not used to when it. When. When it rains, people scared to get wet. I don't walk with no umbrella. It reminds me that I'm get through the Storm. I want to get wet. I want to hit a thunder. I want the rain. I want to come in the house and I'm soaking wet. It reminds me, like, this ain't the end of the world. That sun gonna come out. [01:08:23] Speaker A: Wow. [01:08:24] Speaker B: That's how I look at life. [01:08:26] Speaker A: You're one inspirational guy, my friend. [01:08:28] Speaker B: Thank y' all. Took me a long time to get here, but. [01:08:31] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. Well, you're inspiring me big time. Big time. It's been a. It's really a pleasure having you on. [01:08:40] Speaker B: The podcast and thank you for the invitation. Wolf been telling me about y' all. I'm like, wolf, set it up. Let me get on there. Like, let me motivate the people. New York, Like, I feel like I'm the biggest. I feel like I'm the biggest New Yorker. Like, I mean, I was mad when the Knicks lost. [01:08:55] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. [01:08:56] Speaker B: Well, I canceled studio time because the Knicks was playing. Big New York fan. [01:09:02] Speaker A: Yeah. I was there for the. The semifinals when they won the semi semifinals down at msg, and it was nuts. [01:09:11] Speaker B: Yeah. Tickets was too much for me. [01:09:13] Speaker A: Well, I was outside. I wasn't at the game, and it was thousand. It was crazy. You know, it was actually. I won't do it again. It was pretty crazy. [01:09:22] Speaker B: I watched it for my tv. [01:09:24] Speaker A: Yeah. Smart. [01:09:25] Speaker B: I'm good from there. [01:09:26] Speaker A: I love how you say you watched basketball. You watch it? Yeah. [01:09:29] Speaker B: Yeah. Still do. I'm like, yeah, I'm watching the game. [01:09:33] Speaker A: Before we let you go, Chris, we here at the New Yorkers Podcast. Want to know what it means to you, Chris Felder, to be a New Yorker. [01:09:42] Speaker B: It means everything being a New Yorker. I'm a giant. I feel I can't. I can't be Chris Felder and no other state but New York. It's an honor for me to be born in New York. It's an honor for my birth certificate to say New York on it. It's an honor that I could stand on the corner then smell the. I ain't gonna lie, smelling New York is filthy. But I love reminds me that I can't fall back because there's always another New Yorker out here that could pass me and take over my place. It keep that hustle in me. I'm proud to say I'm a New Yorker. New York Knicks, New York, the Jets, the Yankees, the Mets. I love New York. I am New York. Concrete jungle is where dreams are made. From. Here we go. [01:10:32] Speaker A: Perfectly said. Thank you for joining us today for this week's episode of the New Yorkers Podcast. Chris, why don't you let everyone know where they can find you on your social media? [01:10:42] Speaker B: My social media Instagram, blondbinyc NYC or the official blonde stepper NYC. I'm on Instagram. I'm on TikTok just having fun, enjoying life. [01:10:54] Speaker A: That's perfect. And your podcast again so the people can know too. [01:10:58] Speaker B: My podcast is the Blondman now I see streaming on all platforms on YouTube comes out each and every Wednesdays. [01:11:06] Speaker A: Perfect. Once again, I'm your host Kelly Kopp, also known as New York City Cop all across my social media. [01:11:15] Speaker C: Please like and subscribe to the New Yorkers Podcast and you can follow the New Yorkers on social media at the New Yorkers Podcast. [01:11:22] Speaker A: You can leave a rating or a comment to let us know how you are enjoying the show. We read through all your comments and DMs so please we would love to hear from you. Thank you Sue Rothwell, Courtney and Regina Lira for your kind words on the last episode. If you want to be featured at the end of an episode, leave a rating on Apple Podcast or a comment on Spotify. [01:11:45] Speaker C: And thank you Thierry Tavernier, Ryan Crow and Joy Goldsmith for your comments on Facebook. [01:11:52] Speaker A: Have a lovely day everyone and we will see you next time. [01:11:55] Speaker C: Goodbye. [01:12:00] Speaker A: Thank you New York 100 for sponsoring this episode. To learn more about them, visit ny100.org this is the last stop on this train. Everyone please leave the train. Thank you for riding with MTA New York City Transit.