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
161 episodes
Airport Travel with Michael Connolly, Skywise Solutions
This episode was recorded at Rise4Disability.Experience the world of accessible travel in aviation with Michael Connolly as we welcome him to the Sunflower Conversations podcast at the Rise4Disability event in Milton Keynes. Michael sha...
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with Fran White - Australia and New Zealand
“…the mental, challenges are as great as perhaps the physical ones.“ Peta Hooke interviews Fran, an ambassador for MS Australia. Fran chats about confronting her late diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and some of ...
Cerebral Palsy and Mental Health with Eva Abley
This podcast was recorded as an Instagram Live.Meet Eva Abley, the unstoppable force behind the memoir "The Good, The Bad and The Wobbly." At only 16 years old, Eva takes us on a journey through her life, from managing her symptoms of c...
Functional Neurological Disorder and Fibromyalgia with Gabrielle Hine
Gabrielle Hine shares her life-altering journey with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and fibromyalgia. Gabby experiences symptoms such as paralysis, non-epileptic seizures and blindness daily. Gabby paints a vivid picture of how these mi...
Autism with Ashlee Law - Australia and New Zealand
“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 interview...
Cerebral Palsy with Richard Luke, Scope and Karen Watson, Cerebral Palsy Adult Services UK
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, an...
Tourette's Syndrome and Mental Health with Joshua Fletcher - Australia and New Zealand
“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 ...
Employment - Empowering Disabled Freelancers with Lydia Wilkins
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 navig...
Pompe Disease with Hele Borup - Australia and New Zealand
“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 H...
Cushing's Syndrome with Gretchen Jordan
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 dia...
Autism and ADHD with Isabella Fantastia - Australia and New Zealand
“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...
Tourette's Syndrome with Leighton, Uncle Tics - Australia and New Zealand
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 conditi...
Schizoaffective disorder with Alana - Australia and New Zealand
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 halluc...
Acromegaly with Martin Cornally
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 under...
PTSD and CPTSD with Rachel Bilksi, PTSD UK
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, CPTS...
ADHD and Autism with Althea Rice - Australia and New Zealand
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...
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) with Amy Kelly, Crohn's & Colitis Ireland
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.
PMDD with Anna Cooper and Dr Rebecca Tomlinson, Menstrual Health Project
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.
PMDD and Chemical Menopause with Amani Omejer
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 relat...
Parkinsons with Eve Jensch
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 condit...
Optic Nerve Glioma with Michelle Culbert and Karina Smith
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, ...
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Eating Disorders, Autism and ADHD with Adam Fare
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...
Eating Disorders with Zoe Summers, BEAT UK
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...
Stroke with Jo Aurora, Different Strokes, and Hayette Wilkinson
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...
