Talking In The Dark With Evie Roberts

LEE RIDLEY aka LOST VOICE GUY. Many comedians use humour to challenge preconceptions and break down social misconceptions. However, this week’s guest did this to such great effect that he won Britain’s Got Talent and has since forged a hugely respected stand-up career.

In this week’s episode of Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with comedian and author Lee Ridley aka Lost Voice Guy.

In this conversation Evie learns all about Lee’s childhood growing up with cerebral palsy and some of the difficulties he encountered as a child living with a disability. Lee also describes how he shifted from a career in journalism to comedy as well as some of the inspiration and thought behind his jokes and unique style of humor. 

This was a lovely conversation with an incredibly talented guest and we thank Lee for his time and generosity. 

For many people climbing Mount Everest is considered the ultimate test of human endurance, an iconic challenge that pushes a climber’s physical and mental resilience to the absolute limits.  

In this week’s episode of Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with founder of the DeafBlind Everest Project, and deafblind climber Caroline Pakenaite. 

Through this week’s conversation Evie learns all about Caroline’s experience with Usher’s Syndrome - a degenerative sight and hearing condition, including some of the considerable challenges her diagnosis presented her with as well as the many ways that she has worked to adapt to her changing circumstances. 

Caroline also discusses the wonderful DeafBlind Everest Project explaing the training that is involved with preparing to summit Everest, and her even bigger aim for the project of raising awareness around deafblindness. 

This was a fantastic conversation with a wonderful guest and we thank Caroline very much for joining Evie on her podcast.

In this week’s episode of Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with award winning illustrator, disability consultant, and ambassador for the MS Trust Ananya Rao-Middleton.

There are some sporting partnerships that are simply inspiring to watch and follow as they seem to defy all expectations with the achievements they make. And this week’s guests are one such duo who let nothing stand in their way when they have a goal in their sights.  

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with Guinness world record breaker for being the youngest person with an intellectual impairment to complete the London Marathon Lloyd Martin, and his mum Ceri Hooper. 

In this episode Evie chats with Lloyd and Ceri about their wonderful achievements, covering a wide variety of interesting topics such as planning and training for the London Marathon, and how it felt to complete the world famous race. Lloyd also shares on his passion for other sports such as gymnastics and football as well as his top three proudest moments to date.

Alongside this Evie and her guests discuss some of the problems Lloyd has faced in the past trying to access and take part in extra-curricular sporting clubs and activities due to the stigma around his condition and the attitudinal barriers he and many others like him face because of ignorance. 

This was a truly lovely conversation with remarkable guests and we thank Lloyd and Ceri very much for joining Evie on her show.

Theatre is a wonderfully vibrant art form full of human expression and life and this week’s guest is a leading actor who simply thrives and sparkles in the lime light.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with actor and star of the West End Ed Larkin.

In today’s conversation Evie speaks with Ed and learns all about his childhood growing up as a young person with cerebral palsy. Ed also shares where is love of performing first began and the incredible experience he had playing the central character in the West End musical The Little Big Things.

This was a brilliant talk with a wonderful guest and we thank Ed for finding the time in his busy schedule to join Evie on her podcast.

Today’s guest is a pioneering British comedian who has shaped and developed a sparkling career on stage, TV, radio, and in print. However, he is also a person who has dealt with a considerable illness which he now speaks about and raises awareness around. 

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with comedian, podcaster, author and ambassador for the Scope charity Richard Herring.

In today’s conversation Evie speaks with Richard and learns all about his journey into comedy, the joys he finds in touring and performing live, and the impetus behind starting his brilliant podcast The Leicester Square Theatre Podcast. Richard also shares on his experience with testicular cancer and explains some of the ways he has grown from the ordeal and how it now informs his writing.

This was a lovely conversation with a brilliant comedian and we thank Richard for his time and energy.

Competitive climbing is a very demanding sport that requires a lot of strength, agility and courage.  Today’s guest is a world champion, gold medal winning climber who scales the most challenging of walls whilst also having a very significant visual impairment.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with world champion paraclimber and patron of the VICTA charity, Abbie Robinson.

In today’s conversation Evie speaks with Abbie and learns all about her particular V.I. condition and how she discovered and became involved with climbing when she was a child. Abbie also shares with Evie what it is she loves about climbing, the skills and qualities that she deems important to her success, and also the fantastic work that she does promote and support the wonderful VICTA charity.  

This was a fascinating conversation with an exceptional sports person and we thank Abbie greatly for her time and sharing her experience so generously.

Today’s guest is a man whose inner strength, resolve and desire to help other people are as deeply engrained within him as the great mountains he scales are high.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with adventurer, Millimetres 2 Mountains charity founder, broadcaster and author Ed Jackson.

In today’s episode Evie talks with Ed and learns all about the life changing accident that ended a very rewarding career as a professional rugby player and the significant physical and mental challenges he faced learning to adapt to the injuries he suffered. Ed also describes the purpose he now finds in helping others deal with their own trauma through the work he does with his charity Millimetres 2 Mountains, and the great enjoyment he also gets from broadcasting for the BBC on sporting events such as the Paralympic games in Paris.  

This was a wonderful conversation with a remarkable guest and we thank Ed greatly for his time and personal insights.  

Today’s guest is a person who responded to a challenging situation with love and care, and as a result created an award winning and pioneering company that encourages everyone regardless of age or ability to express themselves through the beautiful artistic medium of dance.  

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with Rashmi Becker founder of the Step Change Studios dance company.

Through today’s interview Evie learns all about Rashmi’s dance company and the very personal reasons behind why she decided to establish Step Change Studios in the first place. Rashmi also explains how she carefully plans and designs her classes, the benefits to be gained by people with disabilities taking part in dance, and her exciting aspirations for the future.

This was a sparkling conversation with a wonderful person and we thank Rashmi very much for her time and generosity.

Today’s guest is the creative learning director for a highly acclaimed and world-famous theatre company which challenges preconceptions, smashes outdated ideology and empowers deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists create stunning and deeply meaningful performance work.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with Jodi-Alyssa Bickerton from the incredible Graeae Theatre Company.

In today’s talk Evie learns all about Jodi’s life and work at Graeae including: how she first became interested in theatre and some of the early experiences that informed her journey into the profession, and the work that she now does supporting others realise their talents and achieve dreams.

This was a beautiful and far-reaching conversation with a wonderful guest and we thank Jodi-Alyssa for her time and generosity.