Contact UsBuild My Power Practice Blueprint
All Power Hour episodes

Power Hour · 2025-06-02

Vision Beyond Sight: How the Two Blind Brothers Turned a Diagnosis into a Mission of Hope and Impact

Two Blind Brothers sit down with Eugene Shatsman to share the story behind the brand that’s raised millions for blindness research — while challenging how we think about disability, storytelling, and human connection.

Listen to the episode
Watch the episode

What if the very thing you thought would hold you back, became the motivation behind your greatest impact? 

In this deeply personal and inspiring episode of Power Hour, host Eugene Shatsman sits down with Brad and Bryan Manning — the powerhouse duo behind Two Blind Brothers, to explore how vision loss sparked one of the most purpose-driven brands in America. 

Diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a rare genetic form of macular degeneration, Brad and Bryan grew up knowing their eyesight would gradually decline. But, instead of retreating from the world, they leaned in — with empathy, humor, and a bold desire to help others. 

That mission led to the creation of Two Blind Brothers, an apparel brand built on trust, texture, and transparency. Every item is designed with the visually impaired in mind: tagless, ultra-soft, ethically sourced, and 100% of profits go directly to fund clinical research aimed at curing blindness. 

In this episode, Brad and Bryan unpack the real story behind the brand’s viral rise: how one shopping trip turned into a national movement, how radical transparency became their most powerful marketing strategy, and how telling the truth — raw and unfiltered— helped them build one of the most trusted DTC brands on the internet. 

But they don’t stop there. 

The brothers open up about how their lived experiences shape their worldview, what they wish more eye care professionals understood about the emotional side of vision loss, and how optometrists can deepen patient loyalty not through perfection, but through connection.

This isn’t just a feel-good story. It’s a call to action — for every eye care provider, entrepreneur, and human being looking to make their work more meaningful and their impact more real. Whether you’re leading a practice, building a brand, or just searching for purpose in your work, this episode is a reminder that your greatest challenges might just unlock your greatest strengths. 

Brought To You By:

This episode of Power Hour is proudly sponsored by L’Amy America, home of the 2BB eyewear collection inspired by the Two Blind Brothers. With every frame sold, 10% goes directly to retinal research, helping fight blindness while supporting purposeful style. As a retail partner, your practice can help fund life-changing research, access national marketing support, and become part of a growing movement committed to a future without blindness. 

Learn how to become a partner at: https://www.lamyamerica.com/  

Key Takeaways
  • Purpose Over Product: Why aligning your mission with your story creates deeper customer loyalty. 
  • Trust is Everything: How radical transparency built a movement that raised millions for research. 
  • From Patient to Advocate: The power of lived experience in shaping more empathetic care and communication. 
  • Vision Beyond the Exam Lane: How optometrists can serve not just sight, but identity and dignity. 
  • Make It Personal: Why patients remember how you made them feel more than what you prescribed. 
  • Vulnerability Builds Connection: How sharing their story openly created a loyal community around their mission. 
  • Design with Empathy: Why every detail of their products (from feel to function), was crafted with the visually impaired in mind. 
In This Episode
  • 00:00 – Introduction 
  • 04:13 – The Origin of Two Blind Brothers 
  • 10:06 – Why Transparency and Emotion Drive Deeper Impact 
  • 15:48 – Navigating Vision Loss: The Emotional Layers Patients Face, and What Doctors Often Miss 
  • 21:37 – Lessons From Media Exposure and Celebrity Support 
  • 27:56 – Advice for Optometrists: How to Communicate With Compassion and Make Patients Feel Seen 
  • 33:11 – Why Giving 100% of Profits Away Built More Loyalty, not Less 
  • 38:26 – The Future of Blindness Research and Why Optimism Matters 
  • 42:36 – What it Really Means to be Patient-First: Identity, Dignity, and the Human Experience 
Contact Information

Connect with the 2 Blind Brothers

Brad and Brian Manning are the co-founders of Two Blind Brothers, a mission-driven fashion brand dedicated to funding research for blindness cures. Diagnosed at a young age with Stargardt disease, a genetic condition causing progressive vision loss, the brothers channeled their personal journey into a global movement rooted in empathy, purpose, and radical transparency. 

Founded on a single idea to create ultra-soft, ethically made clothing while donating 100% of profits to retinal research — Two Blind Brothers has grown into a viral, values-first brand supported by millions and endorsed by the likes of Ellen DeGeneres, Ashton Kutcher, and NBC’s Today Show. 

As advocates, entrepreneurs, and patients, Brad and Brian offer a unique and deeply human perspective on the patient experience, brand-building through trust, and the power of storytelling to drive both awareness and action. 

Their mission isn’t just about fashion — it’s about helping people feel seen, even when vision fades. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/twoblindbrothers/  

Website: https://twoblindbrothers.com/pages/about-us  

Bryan Manning’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-manning-0b390070/  

Brad Manning’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradford-manning-0b7b3139/ 

Connect with Eugene Shatsman

Website – https://www.eugeneshatsman.com/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugeneshatsman

Back to all Power Hour episodes

Your Dream Practice, and the Path to It.

Every Power Practice client gets:

An Eyecare B.O.S.S. assessment.An honest look at your practice across the five systems, followed by a conversation about your goals and the opportunities that matter most to you.

A plan built for your goals.A written plan we build with you, with clear steps toward your dream practice. Together, we continually update and refine it using your practice’s data.

World-class data.Project UP reveals the numbers behind your performance, from Exam Only rate to Time Between Exams, so you can see what’s working and where to focus next.

A matched advisor.An advisor matched to you through your assessment, with real practice experience and a deep understanding of Eyecare B.O.S.S. to guide your next steps.

Get to your dream practice faster than you would on your own.

Build My Power Practice Blueprint