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Welcome to the Sunflower Conversations, the podcast where we explore the experiences of disabled people with non-visible disabilities through the lens of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
This is a space to hear authentic stories from disabled people navigating life with non-visible disabilities such as chronic illness, mental health conditions, neurodivergence, and more. While most episodes focus on lived experience, we also feature occasional insights from experts in healthcare, accessibility, and inclusion.
Whether you or someone you care about wears the Sunflower, our conversations aim to raise awareness, build understanding, and help create a more inclusive and compassionate world.
Empowering voices. Raising awareness. Challenging assumptions - one conversation at a time.
140 Episodes
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Content warning: In this episode, we are talking about the topic of mental health and refer to self-harm and suicide. If any of the conversation causes you distress and you need to speak to someone, please consider contacting a family member or friend for additional support. However, if you need professional help, please contact NHS 111 option 2 (in the UK) or your region’s emergency response number, or healthcare practitioner. Kelly Winstanley, the National Clinical Lead from the charity Men...
In this episode, Flic Manning chats with inclusion strategist Nicole Marshall on late autism diagnosis, unmasking, and the simple changes that make work humane and effective. • Self-discovery through adult autism diagnosis and identity work • The cost of masking and energy management • Common workplace misconceptions about neurodivergence • Lessons from teaching to inclusion strategy • Inclusion as good business and good practice Visit our website, Facebook, or Instagram for more resou...
Nate Hadlock and Cat Keely-Wells, advocates from the United Ostomy Associations of America, join us to address common questions and dispel myths and the stigma about living with an ostomy. Millions of people worldwide have a stoma, yet there is a significant lack of knowledge and awareness about ostomies and the life-saving treatment they provide. Sharing their own journeys as ostomates, we discuss: Explanation of ostomy terminology, including different types: colostomy, ileostomy, uros...
Lydia Best, President of the European Federation of Hard of Hearing People (EFHOH), shares her personal journey with hearing loss and explains the barriers faced by the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. We discuss the emotional impact of hearing loss, technological solutions like cochlear implants, and practical ways to create more inclusive communication environments. Lidia explains what accessibility challenges exisit in various settings and explores what businesses and individuals can do...
Tim Wilkins from the Alzheimer's Society and Paul Hoskins join us to discuss dementia. The stigma and misconceptions around dementia often paint a bleak picture of life after diagnosis. Paul has a different story to tell as he is living with frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's. "Some days can be very hard. Some days are a lot easier," Paul explains, offering a glimpse into the reality of living with dementia. Far from withdrawing from life, Paul has embraced new activities s...
In this episode, Flic Manning chats with Catherine Hanna, a proud Sunflower and road safety advocate. Catherine shares her journey with post-concussion syndrome, the misconceptions surrounding an invisible brain injury, and how writing poetry has helped her process trauma and rebuild her identity. • Post-concussion syndrome can occur without hitting your head or losing consciousness • Brain injuries don't always show up on CT scans as damage can be at a cellular level • The "mild" in mild tr...
This episode was recorded on Instagram Live. Hollie Christian Brooks joined us to discuss her new play "Yawn: A Chronically Fatigued Play", which draws from her personal experience with ME/CFS to educate audiences about non-visible disabilities and create new connections with the community. We discuss everything, from symptoms and periods to self-discovery and the power of the Sunflower. ME/CFS often develops following viral infections like glandular fever, with Hollie’s diagnosis...
Tasha Sorhaindo shares her journey living with multiple chronic health conditions and founding her charity, Chronically Marvellous, that supports individuals with non-visible disabilities. Tasha is autistic and lives with systemic lupus, dilated cardiomyopathy leading to heart failure, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, arthritis and osteoporosis. After being able to run marathons and becoming gravely ill with only two weeks to live, Tasha decided to set up Chronically Marvellous to support others in a...
Ant Raje shares his journey of living with ADHD and deafness in one ear, exploring how they impact focus, communication, and identity. He challenges common misconceptions, reflects on the power of empathy, and shares why creating spaces where people feel seen and heard matters more than having all the answers. • Living with both ADHD and hearing loss creates unique challenges as paying attention (needed for hearing) is complicated by ADHD-related focus issues • Common misconceptions about AD...
Murray Golder shares his experience with epilepsy and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), highlighting how this support enables him to continue working full-time while managing his condition safely. Murray explains that his absence seizures, which can cause him to lose awareness for 20 seconds to 2 minutes, can place him in danger as he isn’t conscious of what he is doing. And more recently, as a consequence of the medication, Murray's memory function has deteriorated rapidly. PIP provides e...
Laura Pedernuzzo shares her experiences living with multiple disabilities and provides invaluable insights into disability advocacy. She explains how both visible and invisible disabilities shape her daily interactions with the world, highlighting the unique challenges of each. • Living with cerebral palsy creates physical barriers, but the fatigue it causes is often misunderstood • People with borderline personality disorder are often mischaracterised as manipulative when they're simply try...
Andrea Carstensen, a double Master's student at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Sunflower Friend. Andrea discovered the Sunflower at Gatwick Airport after moving from the US to the UK for university. As a young person living with non-visible chronic health conditions, she shares her journey from Sunflower lanyard user to advocate. Through high-level UN advocacy and campus policy reform, Andrea has successfully championed the adoption of the Hidden Disabilities S...
Erin Philpott shares her journey with Stargardt disease, revealing how she navigated diagnosis as a teenager and now balances motherhood while advocating for invisible disabilities in the workplace and beyond. • Erin faces significant daily challenges with transportation as a legally blind mother to a five-year-old • Often encounters misconceptions as she doesn't "look blind" without using a cane or guide dog • Erin chairs an employee-led committee advocating for disability, accessibility and...
We welcome Sean Ewart and Manny Caro from the Spondylitis Association of America to provide an overview of Spondyloarthritis (SpA), a family of closely related inflammatory diseases that affect millions worldwide yet remain significantly under-recognised and diagnosed. Despite affecting more people than rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and ALS combined, SpA struggles with awareness. The primary disease in this family is ankylosing spondylitis (AS), also known as axial spondyloarthrit...
Terri Louise Brown has Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS), experiencing frequent relapses and daily pain. In this conversation, Terri shares her journey from MS diagnosis at 27 to founding the charity Talks With MS. The charity provides community support for those living with multiple sclerosis. Cultural attitudes in BAME communities can create barriers to seeking medical help for chronic conditions, which is why Terri is committed to being the voice for the voiceless and encou...
Saran Chamberlain shares her journey as a young stroke survivor, from experiencing a life-changing event at 38 to becoming a national advocate for the stroke community. • Initially misdiagnosed as a migraine, the stroke left her entire left side paralysed with no sensation • Saran discusses the challenges of identity shift and the unseen deficits like fatigue, depression, and sensory overload • Highlights the isolation younger stroke survivors often face in healthcare and rehabilitation set...
Join us as we welcome Shaylee Raye Hunter, Miss Petite Utah, who shares her journey as an advocate for women's rights and disability visibility. Shaylee opens up about her personal lived experiences with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO), gastroparesis, and short bowel syndrome. In an open discussion, she shares how she manages her health conditions with medical interventions, such as a feeding tube and TPN, providing a unique glimpse into her life and the lifeline she depends on d...
Téa Runback shares her personal journey living with multiple invisible disabilities, including autism, ADHD, and a collection of autoimmune conditions, while highlighting the barriers faced in healthcare and employment settings.
Kate Middleton, CEO of The Wren Project, joins us for a special edition as part of the Podcasthon, which seeks to spotlight thousands of charities. In this episode, Kate shares her personal journey with multiple autoimmune diseases and explains how the body attacks itself instead of viruses. The Wren Project pairs individuals with dedicated volunteers for up to six months of regular support. It provides vital mental health support through dedicated listening services to those living with the...
In this episode, we chat with Elisha Samuels, who recently won Hidden Disability Personality of the Year at The Empowerment Awards by Talks with MS. The award was sponsored by Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and presented by our podcast host, Chantal. Elisha shares her own unique experiences of living with multiple sclerosis, discussing her challenges, the importance of a supportive workplace, societal perceptions of living with a non-visible disability, and the Sunflower's value in making the ...
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