Navy veteran Lonnie Bedwell lost his sight in a hunting accident in 1997. He was 30 years old, blind, and raising three daughters alone. What he did next is the kind of story that makes you rethink every excuse you've ever made.
In episode 303 of Tango Alpha Lima, Bedwell shares his extraordinary journey — from talking his way onto a construction crew as a blind man, to kayaking 226 miles through the Grand Canyon (earning National Geographic's Adventurer of the Year), to summiting Mount Everest with a failed oxygen mask 750 feet from the top.
Now Bedwell is one expedition away from making history. He has summited six of the Seven Summits and skied to the South Pole. When he reaches the North Pole, he will become the first blind American to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam — an achievement fewer than 75 people in history have accomplished.
His journey is the subject of a feature documentary called Beyond Vision. "I lost my eyesight," he says. "I gained vision."
Also in this episode: the VA's new Artificial Intelligence tool and what it means for your appointments, plus three new laws signed into law that expand housing access, improve VA accountability, and strengthen job training for veterans.
00:00 Introduction to the Tango Alpha Lima Podcast
01:03 VA Health and Benefits Mobile App
01:55 Meet Lonnie Bedwell: A Journey of Resilience
06:45 Interview with Lonnie Bedwell
40:42 VA database creates concern for lawmakers
42:55 AI Tools help humanize VA appointments
46:59 Legislative Updates Impacting Veterans
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