Live from Alexandra Gardens, for its first live outside broadcast of 2026, Vision Australia Radio (and JOY 94.9) hosted a candid, funny and deeply human conversation between JOY presenter Adz and Karan Nagrani, Midsumma’s Community Ambassador and a rising voice in disability advocacy.
What began with a quick spin through recent tunes slid naturally into a celebration of pop (yes, Madonna got her flowers), before settling into the story behind Karan’s work, identity and brand‑new comedy show, From Grindr to Blinder.
From marketing to meaning, then to the mic
Karan spent 18 years in marketing, a career he ultimately left when Usher syndrome, a degenerative condition causing blindness and hearing loss, made the corporate world impossible to navigate without the accessibility features we take for granted today. With only 3% vision, Karan turned to social media “as a love letter to my eyes,” and audiences responded. The content struck a chord, the media noticed and advocacy followed. Today, Karan is “the world’s 20th best blind influencer,” a title delivered with a wink, but anchored in real impact.
Finding home in the queer festival family
Now four years into life in Melbourne, after moving from Perth, Karan describes Midsumma as “family.” In a crowd he can’t see, familiar voices call his name: “Hey Karan!” That sense of welcome, of being known, matters, especially for someone who names social anxiety as a quiet companion. As ambassador, Karan’s goal is simple and generous: help make spaces safer, then talk about it openly so others with disability can see themselves feeling safe there too.
“From Grindr to Blindr”: raw stories, real belly laughs
Karan’s debut show, From Grindr to Blindr, is billed as storytelling meets stand‑up: sass, humour and heart. The tongue‑in‑cheek promo features Karan “emotionally naked,” good bits covered by a cane and a couple of cheeky eggplants, signalling a set that’s unfiltered without being unkind. Expect tales of life as vision narrowed from “reasonably sighted” to blind and what it takes to navigate dating, community and identity. Karan’s stage moniker, “That Blind Guy,” says it all. A fair warning is delivered with a smile: if you’re easily offended, this one’s not for you and there are no refunds.
Learn more about Karan’s show, and book tickets at the Midsumma Festival website.
Midsumma Festival runs until February 8. Vision Australia Radio is a proud access and inclusion partner to the annual festival.
Hear, or read, the interview on Omny.
