The Sunflower Conversations
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.
Episodes
149 episodes
Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy (Best Disease) with Fiona - Australia & New Zealand
In this first episode of Season 3, James Dunn returns as our new host, bringing thoughtful and engaging conversations to the forefront. He is joined by Fiona, an organisational design and HR leader with over 18 years’ experience, who shares her...
Autism - my life diagnosed with Aspergers with Alex Manners
We talk with Alex Manners, an autistic speaker and author. In this episode, Alex explains what autism feels like for him, from literal language and sensory stress to special interests, like football, that genuinely help him cope. We also explor...
Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis to charity building Talks With MS
Terri Louise Brown, founder of Talks with MS joins us in this episode. We learn how to create a charity from scratch and discover the importance of community support for those living with multiple Sclerosis.Terri has relapse-remitt...
AuDHD with Courtney Rosato – Australia & New Zealand
In this episode, Flic Manning chats with disability inclusion leader, Courtney Rosato, about her late diagnosis of Autism and ADHD, navigating diverse professional spaces, and how her lived experience informs systemic change.Late di...
Palindromic Rheumatism, Comorbidities and Neurodivergence with Danielle Cudjoe Michalksi
Danielle is neurodivergent and lives with palindromic rheumatism, undifferentiated connective tissue disorder, endometriosis, and adenomyosis.We hear how her conditions intersect and why comorbidities complicate care. Danielle explains f...
POTS and ME/CFS with James - Australia and New Zealand
In this episode, Flic Manning chats with sunflower advocate, James Dunn on sudden onset of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), the long road to diagnosis, and how he ...
FND with Simone Round
Simone Round shares how a hand tremor evolved into a complex FND diagnosis, now consisting of tics, chronic migraines, non‑epileptic seizures, and the reality of becoming an ambulant wheelchair user. In this episode, Simone talks us through her...
Type 2 Diabetes with Ashwin Soni
Ashwin Soni joins the Sunflower Conversations to discuss Type 2 diabetes, which began to affect him four years ago. We learn about the symptoms Ashwin experienced and the changes he has had to make to manage the condition effectivel...
AuDHD with Madeleine - Australia and New Zealand
Flic Manning chats with Madeleine Jaine Lobsey about Autism and ADHD, and how we can move from deficit thinking to joyful, neuroinclusive design across events and workplaces.They discuss: • Finding relief and reframing af...
Mental Health with Kelly Winstanley, Mental Heath Matters
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...
Autism with Nicole - Australia and New Zealand
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 ident...
Living with an Ostomy, with Keely Cat-Wells and Nate Hadlock, UOAA
Nate Hadlock and Keely Cat-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 th...
Hearing Loss with Lidia Best, European Federation of Hard of Hearing People
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 hear...
Dementia with Paul Hoskins and Tim Wilkins, Alzheimer's Society
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 wit...
Post-Concussion Syndrome with Catherine - Australia and New Zealand
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 h...
ME / CFS with Hollie Christian Brookes, Yawn
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 disabi...
Chronic illness with with Tasha Sorhaindo, Chronically Marvellous
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,...
ADHD and Hearing Loss with Ant - Australia and New Zealand
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 p...
PIP with Murray Goulder
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 seizu...
Cerebral Palsy and BPD with Laura - Australia and New Zealand
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, highlight...
Advocating for the Sunflower with Andrea Cartensen
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 yo...
Stargardt Disease with Erin - Australia and New Zealand
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 ...
Ankylosing Spondylitis with Sean Ewert and Manny Caro, Spondylitis Association of America
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-...
Multiple Sclerosis with Terri Louise Brown, Talks With MS
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 provide...
Stroke with Saran - Australia and New Zealand
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 ...
