Typecast

Photo by C D-X Living with a disability can be incredibly isolating, especially after the last year’s social distancing measures. You can feel lonely and as though you’re the only person you know who’s struggling. There are ways to manage this feeling of loneliness and ways to minimise its impact on your mental health. Sometimes talking to someone about the way you’re feeling can be too overwhelming. A podcast is a brilliant way to bridge this gap without needing to feel vulnerable and exposed to someone else. You can listen to people talking about their experiences with disability, and the chances are, you might just relate to what they say. Podcasts are hugely beneficial and can help you to feel less alone. Here are a few podcasts that focus on disability and the challenges disability can bring. Airing Pain The presenters of Airing Pain talk about chronic forms of pain with specialists and also share some fantastic resources available for those suffering. This podcast connects people...

Recently I've been digging into my podcast library and recommendations and always seem to switch between humour, running and true crime. The latter theme - true crime - has become a bit of an obsession because I'm fascinated by the amount of information that's had to be sourced to create the podcast, and there's always a 'final outcome' rather than it being an continuing series.  Here are my five favourites at the moment. All are available on iTunes, in your regular podcast app and maybe on Spotify but I've included main-page links below. Also, let me know what you're listening to right now.  S-Town ( subscribe ) Brian Reed is a journalist. He was contacted by John Mclemore who wanted help investigating claims that the son from a wealthy local family was bragging that he got away with murder. The investigation goes much deeper, uncovers a treasure hunt and the whole story is absolutely gripping. Don't search for spoilers do get o...

Ever since I was a panellist on Sally Naden's daytime chat show on BBC Radio Lancashire, and then took part in a blogger take-over on radio stations around the UK talking about healthy breakfasts , I fell in LOVE with notion of presenting my own radio show at some point in my life. Fast foward a couple of years and I found myself promoting an adult learners course on a local community radio station (Preston FM - sadly no longer in existence) and was encouraged by one of the presenters to join the next training course to become a presenter .  I wrote a two hour show that was based around the spoken word (poems, short plays, monologues) and then ended up hosting my own quiz show on Preston FM - The Big Cheese - which ran for six episodes and a couple of one-off specials.  I also had the opportunity to be part of an actual radio play - Welcome To Our Village, Please Invade Carefully - which is very funny, you should have a listen! But volunteering takes up valuable time a...

There's definitely been a boom in podcasting in 2017. I have a podcast app on my phone and, apart from the main social media channels, it's one of the most used apps I've ever downloaded. I currently have 41 podcast feeds stored in there and refresh the downloads about twice a week. Some are radio show round-ups (or segments from the show), some are comedy, some are crime related and some are hobby/interest related. I tend to listen to my podcasts in the car on the way to work as most are around the length of the 25-minute journey. Here are my favourite podcast picks - if you haven't already, you should give them a try. My Dad Wrote A Porno Right... I know I'm late to the party but I've just started listening to My Dad Wrote A Porno . It's been downloaded to the app for absolutely ages and I decided to give it a go this week after reading rave reviews (and realising that it's now on the third series).  Anyway, Jamie's dad wrote an erot...

April felt like such a long month but I think some of that was because I was counting the days on a 30-day squat challenge (more of that in the monthly Fitbitches blog post). But long months provide lots of learning opportunities so here are my favourite few.  Buckle in... it's a long ride! My picture of Carol's bin and my declaration that she is my hero is one of my most popular photos of the month.  # BinGate is the hot topic of the month... probably even the year. I thought our plight was a common one but it seems that it isn't. It's a long story, but on many occasion our wheely bin is stolen. It is deliberately taken and used for a full fortnight until the next collection day for one of two reasons; (1) a neighbour doesn't own their own bin, will not pay the council fee of £20 for a new one, so takes the one nearest to their gate on collection day or (2) they didn't put their own bin out in time for collection and emptying so just take one when they th...

Do you remember that time that I had my own quiz show on a community radio station? It all came to an abrupt end due to time constraints and recording logistics but it has always been on the back burner, waiting for a time to come to life again. Not so long back, one of the original team members and show producers asked if I'd like to be a part of a Christmas recording of his own radio show - Wit's End - and, if there was the opportunity, to record a one-off special of The Big Cheese.  So we sorted some dates out and some willing participates and got both recordings 'in the can' in November. For first time listeners, The Big Cheese is a regular cheesy quiz show with Christmas-related questions that aren't all that difficult (feel free to shout out the answers and let me know how you get on) and Wit's End is very much a satirical panel show. Both were huge fun to record and this was the first time that The Big Cheese had been recorded in front of a ...

The internet is an amazing place for discovery of new interests and wonderful people.  I attended the podcasting session at Cybher that was run by The High Tea Cast and instantly became a fan of the ladies behind the scenes and the whole concept of podcasts.  I've managed to stop short of stalking the High Tea Cast team but only because Sam agreed to share her Soundtrack To My Life .  Here are her song choices and the story behind each one. ¨¨°º©©º°¨¨ Dire Straits - Money For Nothing This song reminds me so much of my childhood that when I hear it I feel instantly transported back to being five years old, in my Nan's front room, on a bright orange, 80s-style sofa.  My dad used to play Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, Queen and Elvis on a loop to me, even when I was a baby (through headphones) and this song in particular makes me smile. (popout : http://youtu.be/wTP2RUD_cL0 ) Green Day - Welcome To Paradise After going through a hideous boy band phas...

What a gorgous name for a radio show! Dream Corner is broa dcas t on  OnFM Londo n  and its ethos is to inspire women of all ages to follow their dreams and their passions.  It is presented  by the very lovely Viv Oyolu , whose accent is to die for I rocked up to the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith  and I could have happily blagged a few more hours there to have a nosy round if I'd have know more about the  studio's history  but I had arranged to call in for a chat with Viv on my way to the BritMums Live! event.   Prior to the interview, I sent in a guest post to be featured on the website - we called it ' Life In New Directions '.  During the interview we had a chat about the direction in which my life has taken me, what I have done to cope with the difficult times in my life and how my husband and I support each other.   I had an amazing view over the River Thames from my microphone and it was a very relaxing hour...