Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Multi-hyphenate creative, advocate, and social media star Molly Burke was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare degenerative eye disease that leads to eventual blindness, at four years old. Named to Forbes 30 Under 30, Burke has spoken globally on some of the most prestigious stages (like the United Nations) and built a global community of over five million followers with her content dedicated to accessibility, inclusion, and representation. Join us as she talks about her newest book – Unseen: How I Lost My Vision but Found My Voice – and shares her vulnerable, honest, and darkly humorous account of how she’s navigated the challenges of being a blind woman in a sighted world, what her experiences have taught her, and what she hopes others can learn from her hardship and successes.
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Multi-hyphenate creative, advocate, and social media star Molly Burke was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare degenerative eye disease that leads to eventual blindness, at four years old. Named to Forbes 30 Under 30, Burke has spoken globally on some of the most prestigious stages (like the United Nations) and built a global community of over five million followers with her content dedicated to accessibility, inclusion, and representation. Join us as she talks about her newest book – Unseen: How I Lost My Vision but Found My Voice – and shares her vulnerable, honest, and darkly humorous account of how she’s navigated the challenges of being a blind woman in a sighted world, what her experiences have taught her, and what she hopes others can learn from her hardship and successes.
Donate now to support programs like this: chicagohumanities.org/donate
Explore upcoming events: chicagohumanities.org
Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/chicagohumanities
Connect on Instagram: instagram.com/chihumanities
![Comedians Maria Bamford and Aparna Nancherla [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YxXKZp6jyhE/mqdefault.jpg "Comedians Maria Bamford and Aparna Nancherla [CC]
The brilliant and frenetic comedian Maria Bamford has always wanted to belong. In her new book, Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult, she shares her stories of navigating through the wild world of show business, psychiatric institutions, and everything in between while on her quest to fit in. Bamford will sit down at Chicago Humanities with superstar comedianAparna Nancherla, author of Unreliable Narrator and expert on impostor syndrome, to get real about relationships, mental illness, the trials of stand-up comedy, and both of their books. Chicago’s own Greta Johnsen (of WBEZ’s Nerdette podcast) will moderate this conversation between two daring voices, as they take audiences on a journey of self-acceptance, belonging, and hilarity.
This program is presented as part of the Roger & Elaine Haydock Humor Series.
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