LIVE with The Famous Dr AL and Richard Dugan

From Legally Blind to Living Fully: Richard Dugan’s Remarkable Journey

Host: Dr. Allen Lycka

Guest: Richard Dugan

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Allen Lycka interviews Richard Dugan, a radio professional with a compelling story of resilience, transformation, and inspiration. Born legally blind, Richard overcame significant challenges to build a fulfilling life and career. He shares his life journey, insights, and the five steps to living a purposeful life, as outlined in his book.

Key Topics Covered

Richard Dugan’s Early Life and Career

• Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Richard was legally blind from birth.
• His educational journey and the formative influence of his parents.
• Early jobs, including working as a paperboy and at a photo lab, despite his visual impairment.
• The discovery of his passion for radio while working at Sun Sounds, a reading service for the visually impaired.

A Life-Changing Transformation

• On March 6, 1996, Richard received a lens implant, improving his vision from 20/200 to 20/80.
• The joy and challenges of transitioning to sighted life, including learning to drive and navigating newfound details of the world.
• His commitment to "paying it forward" by offering rides and helping others, inspired by the help he received in his youth.

The Five Steps to Living a Purposeful Life

Richard outlines the five key steps from his book, developed during his wife’s battle with cancer:

1. Make a Choice: Decide how you want to live your life.
2. Match Your Words to Your Choice: Use positive and affirming language to align with your goals.
3. Align Your Actions with Your Choice: Take steps that support the life you want to live.
4. Choose Your Inputs Wisely: Be mindful of what you consume through your senses, including relationships and media.
5. Be Your Choice: Fully embody the life you have chosen and embrace it wholeheartedly.

Life Lessons and Advice

• Advice Richard would give to his younger self:
• Stop worrying; most fears never come true.
• Trust your intuition and inner voice.
• Live with faith and a positive outlook.
• The importance of living a life aligned with your passions and values.

About Richard Dugan’s Book

Title: Choices: Five Steps for Life

• Available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and soon Audible.
• Learn more or purchase directly through Richard’s website: www.richarddugan.com.

Connect with Dr. Allen Lycka

• Explore Dr. Lycka’s website for more resources on living a fantastic life: www.drallenlycka.com.
• Receive weekly “Golden Pearls” and enter to win a luxury getaway.
• Book Dr. Lycka for speaking engagements: www.dralspeaks.com.

Closing Thoughts

This episode showcases the power of resilience, the importance of making intentional choices, and how life’s challenges can lead to profound growth. Tune in to be inspired by Richard Dugan’s incredible journey!

BIO:

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. Richard was legally blind from birth. In spite or because of that, he went through 13 years of school not knowing what he wanted to do and so he went to Community College and worked in the A/V Department. He found out about a job with 'Sun Sounds' Radio Reading Service, for the blind and visually impaired. Richard started working there August 29, 1979, and never “looked” back.

On March 6, 1996, Richard received a lens implant and went from 20/200 or worse to 20/80 overnight. Within a few months, he was learning to drive a car. A dream he had given up in acceptance of the way he was, legally blind. And that was okay, bicycling was fine for him. After 15 years his marriage ended in divorce. Later Richard met Amrita Ma. They married and moved to her hometown of Santa Barbara and they both started a new life up on the hill, within 5 minutes of her childhood home.

Social Media:

Website: https://www.richarddugan.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-dugan-b8bb2310/