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
Acquired brain injury with Brooke Simon
Acquired brain injury with Brooke SimonTRIGGER WARNING, in this podcast we discuss domestic violence.Brooke acquired her brain injury at the hands of persistent domestic violence. The trauma she experienced resulted ...
Epilepsy and surgery with Hannah Wilson
Epilepsy and surgery with Hannah Wilson Hannah has focal impaired awareness seizures and since we last spoke, 12 months ago, they have got progressively worse. Increasing in frequency and duration. They have also become tonic...
Cerebral palsy, learning difficulties, and anxiety with Bryony Moss
Cerebral palsy, learning difficulties, and anxiety with Bryony MossBryony has cerebral palsy and right hemiplegia, which is a paralysis of the right side of the body. She also has learning disabilities, anxiety and non-epileptic s...
Dyspraxia, dyslexia and dyscalculia with Fire Phoenix Rising
Dyspraxia, dyslexia and dyscalculia with Fire Phoenix Rising Fire Phoenix Rising is a poet and has dyspraxia, dyslexia and dyscalculia – or the triple D’s as she affectionately refers to them.The dyspraxia went u...
Cerebral Palsy with Peta Hooke
The Sunflower Conversations – Cerebral Palsy with Peta HookePeta has cerebral palsy which affects her mobility. Peta uses a wheelchair as she cannot stand or walk independently, she also uses a hoist to shower.The cerebral ...
Desmoid tumour with MaryBeth Eiler
Desmoid tumour with MaryBeth EilerMaryBeth has a rare, aggressive tumour which is called a Desmoid Tumour. In this conversation we hear about the different types of chemotherapy MaryBeth received and had how the tumour sever...
Vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome with Erica Baldwin
The Sunflower Conversations podcast - Vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome with Erica BaldwinErica has Vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (VEDS) – a genetic condition which wasn’t diagnosed until adulthood.In this conversation w...
Bowel cancer, LARS syndrome and stoma with Amanda Strother
Bowel cancer, LARS syndrome and stoma with Amanda StrotherAmanda was diagnosed with bowel cancer at 31 years old. After a successful operation to remove the cancer she developed major LARS which meant that not only was she in pain...
PTSD with Danielle Allen
Suddenly hit by PTSD with Danielle Allen Danielle Allen is a mum to three children. Her eldest son Louis was born with a congenital heart condition called Coarctation of the aorta.Suddenly six years later, and following the tr...
Radiation caused my hidden disability with Kellie La Follett
Radiation caused my hidden disability with Kellie La FollettKellie La Follett was caught in an unexpected mass radiation incident at the school she worked in. Unfortunately Kellie was sitting at the epi centre of the radiation which ...
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Fibromyalgia with Sue McIntosh
On the Road series - Living with Fibromyalgia Sue McIntosh developed fibromyalgia after being involved in a traffic collision. No longer able to continue her career as an advanced driver in the Police force, she has since learn...
On the Road series - Older Drivers Forum
Older Drivers ForumA national forum made up of a group of organisations that support the older motorist to drive safely for longer. They welcome drivers via their website to be informed and be kept up to date with the latest motoring...
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Narcolepsy Cataplexy Dyslexia with Marcus Morgan-Valentine
Let’s talk about intersectional support with Marcus Morgan-ValentineMarcus Morgan-Valentine has dyslexia, narcolepsy, cataplexy, osteomalacia, chronic costocondritus, dyslexia and IBS . He is a youth worker, and performer, and is ...
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Ehler Danlos Syndrome with Mik Lenth
Ehler Danlos Syndrome with Mik LenthMik Lenth is 19 and lives in the MidWest in the US and has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) which affects her connective tissue. The type that Mik has is hypermobility which means that her joints co...
Supporting families with additional needs
Supporting families with additional needs Benedict Symcox is CEO of charity, Family Voice Surrey, which is a parent carer forum.We learn how they engage with parents of children with additional needs, of which there are o...
Neurodivergent and Tourette Syndrome with Kez Symcox
Neurodiverse and Tourette Syndrome Kez Symcox is neurodiverse, and has comorbidities, including: autism spectrum disorder, Tourette Syndrome, generalised anxiety disorder, depression, an eating disorder, PTSD traits, chronic fatigue ...
Aphasia and Epilepsy with Tom Ryan
Aphasia and Epilepsy with Tom RyanTom Ryan-Elliott has epilepsy and aphasia because of a brain injury he received while on holiday in Las Vegas. He has no recollection of the accident and has had several years of rehabilitation.&n...
Mitral heart valve replacement and asthma with Paul Shriever
Open heart surgery and asthma with Paul ShrieverIn this podcast we talk to Hidden Disability Sunflower team member - Paul Shriever. Paul chats about his own invisible disabilities - in his thirties with a young family Pau...
Autism, ADHD, Anxiety and PCOS with Saxon Boone
Autism, ADHD, Anxiety and PCOS with Saxon BooneSaxon Boone lives in Canada. Saxon finally received her diagnosis of autism after teachers thought that she was a problem child. Additionally she has ADHD, anxiety ...
Anxiety and Depression with Maddie White
Anxiety and Depression with Maddie WhiteMaddie White has anxiety and depression which sometimes makes it difficult for her to navigate daily life, especially when out in a public place on her own. Maddie often feels uncomfortable...
Fibromyalgia, depression and borderline personality disorder with Paul Pengelly
Either Off or On - living with Fibromyalgia with Paul PengellyIn this Sunflower Conversation, Paul Pengelly discusses how fibromyalgia impacts his physical and mental health. It took almost three years for Paul to be diag...
PTSD and brain injury with Darren Carew
PTSD with Darren CarewDarren Carew was a career solider in the Army until an accident occurred which would change his life forever. In this conversation Darren explains how his whole world was turned upside down by the accident w...
Autism and Alcohol with Matthew Tinsley
Autism and Alcohol with Matthew TinsleyMatthew Tinsley has a degree in Modern Languages and had a long career as a bookseller in independent bookshops. In this conversation Matthew explains how his alcohol addiction and h...
Autistic, Dyspraxic and Microdeletion on a chromosome with Lorina
Autistic, Dyspraxic and Microdeletion on a chromosome with LorinaLorina is 18 years old is autistic and dyspraxic, and also has a rare condition called microdeletion on a chromosome. These conditions mean that she has learning di...