Dr. Karolina (Caroline) Pakėnaitė

EyeCan: Dr. Karolina (Caroline) Pakėnaitė - defying limits, one summit at a time

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Dr. Karolina Pakėnaitė, also known as Caroline — computer scientist, mountaineer, ultra‑runner, and the force behind the DeafBlind Everest Project. Caroline shares her extraordinary journey from earning a PhD in AI to preparing for the ultimate adventure: summiting Mount Everest.

Listeners will hear how Caroline, who has Usher syndrome (a form of deafblindness), channels resilience, curiosity, and grit into every challenge she takes on — from developing tactile imagery technology for the visually impaired, to racing ultra‑marathons, to climbing 7,000‑metre Himalayan peaks.

Whether you're drawn to adventure, accessibility, determination, or human potential, this is an episode that stays with you.

 

Key episode highlights

Becoming Dr. Karolina (Caroline): How she used AI to turn visual photographs into tactile images for blind and partially sighted people. Why she never imagined she was “smart enough” for a PhD — and what kept her going.

Living with Usher Syndrome: A clear, relatable explanation of what it means to have Type 2A Usher syndrome. How she balances hearing loss, tunnel vision, and night blindness in daily life and on the mountains.

The spark of a mountaineer: How a trip to Everest Base Camp — once thought impossible — lit the fire that changed everything. The moment she realised: “What if I actually could climb Everest?”

Training for the impossible: Three years of intensive preparation guided by Everest veteran Dr. Sundeep Dhillon.

Milestones: half marathon, winter skills, London Marathon, ultra‑marathon, and the Three Peaks in under 24 hours.

How she climbed 6,000m and 7,000m Himalayan mountains to prepare for Everest.

Trust on the mountain: The remarkable partnership with her training partner Samar — including running downhill in the dark faster than sighted teammates.

Meet Bosley: Her beloved guide dog’s upcoming retirement — and why that transition is so emotional.

Advice for Deafblind climbers: Why reading mountaineering books builds safety, intuition, and confidence. Encouragement for anyone who feels “not enough” for their dreams.

 

Follow Caroline’s Everest Journey

Instagram: @deafblindeverestproject

Website: DeafBlind Everest Project

 

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