Best Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Podcasts (2024)

1
Functional Neurological Disorder and Fibromyalgia with Gabrielle Hine 31:41

3h ago31:41

31:41

Step into the world of invisible disabilities as I, Chantal, sit down with the remarkable Gabrielle Hine, affectionately known as Gabby. She courageously shares her life-altering journey with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and fibromyalgia. Picture this: navigating a day that can be disrupted without warning by symptoms such as paralysis or…

1
Autism with Ashlee Law - Australia and New Zealand 11:02

1h ago11:02

11:02

“People say to me things like, oh, you can't be autistic. That's not right. You make eye contact, or you do public speaking for your job… I didn't disclose it until I was forced to due to work issues.” Peta Hooke interviews Ashlee, an autistic woman and a mother of three amazing children who are also autistic. Ashlee talks about coping with unexpec…

1
Cerebral Palsy with Richard Luke, Scope and Karen Watson, Cerebral Palsy Adult Services UK 53:45

17d ago53:45

53:45

Richard Luke from Scope and Karen Watson from Cerebral Palsy (CP) Adult Advice Service UK joined the podcast to answer questions from the Sunflower community about CP. Cerebral Palsy develops before, during or soon after birth, and in this conversation, we discuss the fundamental issue of NHS care after childhood, leaving a gaping void in ongoing s…

1
Tourette's Syndrome and Mental Health with Joshua Fletcher - Australia and New Zealand 10:12

29d ago10:12

10:12

“You have mental health challenges, but you are still who you are.” Peta Hooke interviews Joshua about Mental Health and Tourette’s Syndrome. Joshua discusses challenges in public places that cause severe anxiety, and how the Sunflower can help. Joshua would like to see stronger support across essential services such as public transport networks an…

1
Employment - Empowering Disabled Freelancers with Lydia Wilkins 39:06

2M ago39:06

39:06

Unlock the secrets to thriving as a self-employed individual with disabilities in our latest episode featuring Lydia Wilkins, a freelance journalist and editor at Disability Review magazine. Hear Lydia's compelling personal journey as she navigates the workforce as an autistic person living with long COVID. We tackle the significant disability empl…

1
Pompe Disease with Hele Borup - Australia and New Zealand 13:48

2M ago13:48

13:48

“People judge before they stand back and think, you know, there might be another reason for, for a person behaving the way that they do.” Peta Hooke interviews Helle about Pome disease and some of the everyday challenges Helle faces from getting dressed, to speaking to getting around. Pompe disease is a rare, inherited, and without treatment, often…

1
Cushing's Syndrome with Gretchen Jordan 40:55

3M ago40:55

40:55

Discover the vital role of the pituitary gland and its impact on our health with Gretchen Jordan, Associate Director of the Cushing Support and Research Foundation. Gretchen shares her compelling personal journey with Cushing's disease from diagnosis to advocacy. This episode uncovers the critical functions of cortisol and the often-overlooked symp…

1
Autism and ADHD with Isabella Fantastia - Australia and New Zealand 11:24

3M ago11:24

11:24

“My brain is having to put in a lot of coping mechanisms to be able to just be in that space or in that place.” Peta Hooke interviews Isabella about intersectionality in youth, disability and mental health. Isabella (Belle) identifies as a neurodivergent (autistic & ADHD) Greek (CALD) queer/asexual empath with binge eating disorder (BED), learning …

1
Tourette's Syndrome with Leighton, Uncle Tics - Australia and New Zealand 18:46

3M ago18:46

18:46

Language warning: Strong language used in this podcast. Content Warning: Please be advised that this episode contains strong language and discusses suicide. Tourette Syndrome (Tourette's) is a neurological condition that causes individuals to make involuntary vocal noises and movements called tics. Swearing or saying inappropriate things only affec…

1
Schizoaffective disorder with Alana - Australia and New Zealand 13:16

4M ago13:16

13:16

This month, our Sunflower Conversations Podcaster in Australia and New Zealand, Peta Hooke, interviews Alana talking about schizoaffective disorder, a combination of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Alana discusses her experience with hallucinations and multi-sensory delusion, and how the Sunflower can help in employment and education environmen…

1
Acromegaly with Martin Cornally 38:44

4M ago38:44

38:44

Martin Cornally shares his experience of the rare pituitary disease called acromegaly. Hear firsthand how a pituitary tumour led to excessive production of growth hormone, causing severe physical changes, including osteoarthritis. Despite undergoing two surgeries, Martin continues to fight this chronic and life-long condition, shedding light on the…

1
PTSD and CPTSD with Rachel Bilksi, PTSD UK 56:25

5M ago56:25

56:25

Our guest is Rachel Bilski from the charity PTSD UK. PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is typically associated with veterans. However, it isn't only veterans who can develop it – And Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, CPTSD, is less well known and, therefore, can take longer to diagnose. Rachel's lived experiences of CPTSD con…

1
ADHD and Autism with Althea Rice - Australia and New Zealand 9:31

5M ago9:31

9:31

This month, our Sunflower Conversations Podcaster, Peta Hooke, interviews Althea, talking about ADHD and Autism. The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them. It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to s…

1
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) with Amy Kelly, Crohn's & Colitis Ireland 1:02:31

6M ago1:02:31

1:02:31

Our guest is Amy Kelly, Head of Communications and Fundraising at Crohn's & Colitis Ireland. Amy was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease when she was 27 and shares her lived experiences and the impacts and adjustments she has made to her life. Amy explained that inflammatory bowel disease is an autoimmune disease and how it differs from irritable bowel …

1
PMDD with Anna Cooper and Dr Rebecca Tomlinson, Menstrual Health Project 49:01

6M ago49:01

49:01

This podcast was recorded as an Instagram Live. CONTENT WARNING. The terms suicide and eating disorders are referenced. Please visit your healthcare provider if you are concerned about any issues relating to this topic. Anna Cooper, co-founder of the Menstrual Health Project, and Dr Rebeccah Tomlinson joined us to answer questions from the Sunflowe…

1
PMDD and Chemical Menopause with Amani Omejer 37:34

7M ago37:34

37:34

CONTENT WARNING. We touch upon suicide, eating disorders and self-harm. Our guest will talk about her lived experiences, and signposting to charities for support. Please visit your healthcare provider if you are concerned about any issues relating to this topic. This podcast was recorded as an Instagram Live. For years, Amani battled with anxiety, …

1
Parkinsons with Eve Jensch 44:13

7M ago44:13

44:13

Eve Jensch is 37 and was diagnosed with Parkinson's two years ago. Eve lives in Ireland with her three children and her husband and joins us to talk about her lived experience with Parkinson's. Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition, which means that it causes problems in the brain as the cells stop working correctly and, over time, st…

1
Autism and ADHD with Clare and Matilda Kemp 49:36

7M ago49:36

49:36

Clare and her daughter, Matilda, join us to discuss Matilda's school experiences. Matilda is nine years old and in year five at primary school; she is autistic and has ADHD. Friendships can be challenging because Matilda is autistic and doesn't always pick up on social cues. Having ADHD means she needs to be active. Matilda tells us about the adjus…

1
Optic Nerve Glioma with Michelle Culbert and Karina Smith 39:29

8M ago39:29

39:29

Our guests are Karina Smith and Michelle Culbert, from South Florida, who both have Optic Nerve Glioma, a rare eye condition affecting sight that typically affects young children. It is a slow-growing brain tumour in or around the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. As the tumour progresses, it presses on the optic nerve. Karina and M…

1
Eating Disorders, Autism and ADHD with Adam Fare 53:53

8M ago53:53

53:53

CONTENT WARNING. The topic is eating disorders, and throughout the podcast, our guest will talk about their lived experiences, as well as signposting to charities for support. Please visit your healthcare provider if you are concerned about any issues relating to this topic. Undiagnosed autism and ADHD have played a part in Adam developing an eatin…

1
Learning Disabilities with Dorothy Watson and Marcus Tanner, The Sunnybank Trust 32:45

8M ago32:45

32:45

Our guests are Marcus Tanner and Dorothy Watson, CEO of The Sunnybank Trust. “The Sunnybank Trust supports adults with a learning disability across North East Surrey to have confidence, opportunities and control over their own lives and to be able to live without prejudice and discrimination.” In our conversation, we tackle the myths and stigma att…

1
Eating Disorders with Zoe Summers, BEAT UK 53:12

9M ago53:12

53:12

CONTENT WARNING. The topic is eating disorders, and throughout the podcast, our guest will talk about their lived experiences, as well as signposting to charities for support. Please visit your healthcare provider if you are concerned about any issues relating to this topic. Our guest, Zoe Summers, joins us to talk about eating disorders (ED), whic…

1
Stroke with Jo Aurora, Different Strokes, and Hayette Wilkinson 42:16

9M ago42:16

42:16

Jo joined us from the charity Different Strokes to answer Sunflower wearers' questions and to explain what a stroke is, the signs to look out for, and what action to take, as well as advice about the support available to patients. Hayette had a stroke at age 32 and has been on a long journey of rehabilitation and recovery; she talks us through the …

1
Stroke and Hayette Wilkinson 29:35

11M ago29:35

29:35

This podcast was recorded as an Instagram Live. Hayette is a mother, wife and stroke survivor. Aged 32 Hayette experienced a severe stroke called a subarachnoid haemorrhage, followed by an ischaemic stroke a few days later. A subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is a life-threatening type of stroke, caused by bleeding into the space surrounding the brain…

1
Autism and the Sunflower with William Vanderpuye 17:52

11M ago17:52

17:52

William Vanderpuye is a social worker and is autistic. In this conversation, William shares what the Sunflower means to him and the confidence and support it has given him while in education at university and now in employment. William's employer, Sutton Council, is supportive and offers understanding and kindness so that he can succeed and excel i…

1
Perimenopause and Menopause with Dr Louise Newson 51:24

11M ago51:24

51:24

Dr Louise Newson is a GP & Menopause Specialist and joined us to share her knowledge and expertise. Dr Newson and her team at Newson Health are at the forefront of advocating for women to get the appropriate treatment to support their hormone health. As well as investing in research and training to help healthcare practitioners make the best decisi…

1
Autism with Maddie White 35:22

1y ago35:22

35:22

This podcast was recorded as an Instagram Live. Maddie shared her lived experience of being wrongly diagnosed with mixed anxiety, depression and panic disorder before eventually being diagnosed with autism when at university aged 21. In our chat, we talked about her life as she tried to navigate the neurotypical world and her newfound approach to l…

1
Perimenopause and Menopause with Fay Durrant 55:35

1y ago55:35

55:35

Fay Durrant is a Wellbeing and Menopause coach and joined us to discuss perimenopause and menopause as well as her own lived experience with perimenopause. The conversation allows our hosts, Chantal and Paul, to speak about their experiences with having and living through perimenopause. Also discussed is the impact of this phase of life on relation…

1
Rett Syndrome with Beth Johnsson 44:37

1y ago44:37

44:37

Beth Johnsson joins us to talk about Rett Syndrome. This rare genetic disorder affects brain development, resulting in severe mental and physical disability. It's estimated to affect around 1 in 10,000 girls born yearly and is rarely seen in boys. Beth talks about her personal experience with her daughter, Hannah, who was diagnosed with the conditi…

1
Mental Health with Sandy Kaur, Sehhat 51:36

1y ago51:36

51:36

Sandy Kaur joins the Sunflower Conversations to discuss mental health and suicide prevention in Punjabi and South Asian communities and how her charity Sehhat is tackling the topic. We discuss the barriers to seeking support, including the obvious one, which is language and the cultural fear of judgment from the community. Whether talking about men…

1
Multiple Sclerosis with Lisa Nice 52:28

1y ago52:28

52:28

Lisa Nice has multiple sclerosis (MS). She joins Chantal and Paul to explain how the autoimmune and neurodegenerative condition affects her. We also discuss her employer, Comic Relief's approach to diversity, equity and inclusion. Diagnosed late in life, it came as a shock, and it took a while for Lisa to accept her diagnosis, which is relapsing-re…

1
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) with Bethany and Hannah Keime 58:29

1y ago58:29

58:29

Our guests are sisters Bethany and Hannah Keime, who have a condition called Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a disease of the heart muscle where the muscle wall of the heart becomes thickened. Bethany and Hannah received a diagnosis in high school and have had to make significant changes to their lives and sporting passions. They have both been …

1
ADHD, Processing Disorder and Depression with Ginger Ragaishis 41:56

1y ago41:56

41:56

Ginger Ragaishis is Miss Vermont Teen 2023 and is currently a junior in high school. Ginger has ADHD and learning disabilities and uses her lived experience to deliver talks to younger students to give them the confidence to be their authentic selves while at the same time raising awareness about acceptance. We talk about how Ginger's processing di…

1
Cerebral Palsy with Eva Abley 39:37

1y ago39:37

39:37

Eva Abley joined Paul and Chantal at Disability Expo to share her life experience of living with cerebral palsy. Eva is 15 years old and a 2022 Britain’s Got Talent finalist who endeared the country when she took to the stage to entertain, amuse and delight with her quick-witted and observant humour and comedy routines. Close to Eva's heart is her …

1
Fragile X Syndrome with Monique Mitchell and Liz Jewell, Fragile X Australia 52:01

1y ago52:01

52:01

Liz Jewell is the Family Support Counsellor at Fragile X Australia, and Monique Mitchell is the mum of two children with Fragile X Syndrome. This conversation teaches us about Fragile X characteristics and the difference between boys and girls. We also include a Q&A from the Sunflower community, which is very insightful. If you are experiencing any…

1
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and ADHD with Solène Anglaret 50:41

1+ y ago50:41

50:41

Solène joined Ruth and Chantal at Disability Expo to share her life experiences of living with BPD and ADHD. It was a deep and meaningful conversation where Solène revealed the highs and lows, including how her therapy has given her the tools to accept and embrace her mental health and ADHD. This is a live recording. If you are experiencing any iss…

1
Autism with Patrick Fopma 9:19

1+ y ago9:19

9:19

For our first-ever face-to-face Sunflower Conversations recording, Chantal was joined by Patrick Fopma, who is autistic and who describes himself as having Aspergers. In our conversation, we discussed his differences, including how he wanted to fit in when he was at school. We cover his journey through education and the barriers he faced to gaining…

1
Bowel and Vaginal Cancer and Acoustic Neuroma with Karen Bucknall 56:15

1+ y ago56:15

56:15

Karen is a beauty pageant queen who joins the conversation to discuss her diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Karen shares intimate details of her health journey in a humorous and endearing way. After coming to terms with her post-surgery body, Karen enters beauty pageants to build her self-confidence and help support other women and raise cancer aw…

1
Dysautonomia with Miss Chile Ambar Zenteno 30:25

1+ y ago30:25

30:25

Ambar Zenteno, Miss Chile, has dysautonomia and is shining her light on the condition through the beauty pageant Miss World - Beauty with a Purpose platform. Dysautonomia is a term used to describe any disorder of the autonomic (automatic) nervous system. Ambar advocates for the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower in Chile and plans to raise the profile …

1
ADHD, Developmental Coordination Disorder, and Sensory processing with Justin Wesolek 26:43

1+ y ago26:43

26:43

Justin has ADHD, Developmental Coordination Disorder, and Sensory processing issues. A graduate at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, in Wisconsin, which has a special focus for students with disabilities. Justin explains how each of his disabilities affects him and what accommodations his college has made so that the barriers to his education…

1
Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 with Anna Ballreich 22:02

1+ y ago22:02

22:02

Anna Ballreich joins us from the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 to explain the history of the games and what visitors can expect to see and experience. The Special Olympics is from the 17th – 25th June 2023. 7,000 Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities from 190 delegations will compete in 26 sports. The athletes will be …

1
Epilepsy with Murray Goulder and Daniel Jennings, Epilepsy Action 34:27

1+ y ago34:27

34:27

Murray Goulder has epilepsy and joins us with Daniel Jennings from charity, Epilepsy Action, to talk about absence seizures, treatment, public misconceptions and access to venues. Murray campaigns for greater awareness of epilepsy using his lived experiences. An avid music lover, he regularly attends concerts and is passionate about ensuring access…

1
Disability Expo with Jade Godier 24:52

1+ y ago24:52

24:52

Jade Godier joins us to share exciting news about Disability Expo, a free person-focused event for people with lived experience of disability. Showcasing the latest developments on the disability market, relevant services and information, and a full programme of inclusive activities, performances and presentations from engaging relatable people. Mo…

1
AbleVu and Meegan Winters 26:15

1+ y ago26:15

26:15

Meegan Winters is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program regional partner in the US and co-founder of AbleVu and Able Eyes. Meegan talks about her life experiences and why she decided to create the AbleVu, - which provides a detailed preview of an organisation's accessibility features. Access virtual walk-through tours, accessibility checklists,…

1
Congenital Anosmia and visual impairment with Claire-Louise Pitman 23:49

1+ y ago23:49

23:49

Claire-Louise has Congenital Anosmia and is severely visually impaired. Since birth, Claire-Louise hasn't had a sense of smell, but only discovered this when she was 11 years old. We talk about how Claire-Louise navigates through life without two of her senses and what effect that has on her anxiety. If you are experiencing any issues discussed in …

1
Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) with Jasmeet Kaur and Helen Eftekhari, PoTS UK 56:15

1+ y ago56:15

56:15

Helen Eftekhari is a specialist nurse in Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS), and Jasmeet Kaur has lived experience of the health condition. Our conversation discovers what PoTS is and how it affects the body, including the impact it has physically and mentally on patients who can be left with chronic pain, fatigue and anxiety. Helen and Jasmeet s…

1
Brain injury with Holly Tyrer and Scott Casson-Rennie, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower 1:06:21

1+ y ago1:06:21

1:06:21

We are joined by colleagues Holly Tyrer, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower USA, and Scott Casson-Rennie Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Ireland. It is Holly’s 4th anniversary of her brain injury and Scott’s first anniversary of his Aneurysm. The brain is at the heart of our every action and thought, and so we talk about how their ABIs occurred, the effec…

1
ME/CFS and Long Covid with Russell Fleming, ME Association 46:46

1+ y ago46:46

46:46

Russell joins us from the ME Association to discuss Myalgic Encephalopathy and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), including what it is, and how it affects people. ME/CFS is a chronic, complex, multisystem disease that can produce a wide-range of disabling symptoms, dramatically impacting a person's ability to initiate or complete everyday tasks and…

1
A conversation with Amanda George from Flat Out Inc about the tragic death of Veronica Nelson 18:36

2y ago18:36

18:36

With the findings of the inquest into Veronica Nelson’s death at Dame Phyllis Frost centre in Jan 2020 being handed down this week we have heard announcements from the state government about the changes to health provision at the women’s prisons, but what else is changing? I’m joined by community lawyer, prison activist and board member of Flat Out…

1
Brief Interventions - FREE local counselling service offered by BCYF 14:54

2y ago14:54

14:54

Brief Interventions is a free, confidential and easy-to-access counselling service for anyone aged over 16 who is concerned about their mental health, wellbeing, or drug and alcohol use. BCYF delivers the program throughout Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast, Colac Otway region, and the Golden Plains Shire. How does it work? Their experie…

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Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Podcasts

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