The Constant Cheerleader

Embracing Individuality

Ruth Patterson has always had a passion for music. As the lead singer of Holy Moly and The Crackers she's played some of the biggest stages in the UK and across Europe. On top of that 2020 has seen her get the opportunity to work as an artist-in-residence at The Sage in Gateshead.

And as an ambassador for Attitude Is Everything, she also uses her own experiences to help improve access to the music industry for deaf and disabled people.

In the season two finale join her for 30minutes of Mat Talk on shifting attitudes, perfectionism and hot water bottles.

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Finding Connection

As the artistic director of Dash Dot Dance Vicki Busfield champions inclusivity in the dance world and is involved with multiple projects around the arts and mental health.

During lockdown she also became a film producer creating a socially distant film called Are We Floating or Falling?, which saw the dancers involved create work in their own homes to be shown at a virtual arts festival.

Join her for 30 minutes of Mat Talk on the importance of connection, valuing the arts and an unexpected podcast suggestion

Watch Are We Floating or Falling? by following this link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo0UshQxBNE

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Breaking Boundaries

Manisha Tailor MBE is a woman who is not afraid to challenge the status quo

Having originally trained as a teacher and headteacher she moved into coaching, gaining her UEFA B Licence and setting up Swaggarlicious which uses football to create cohesion by engaging with diverse community groups and organisations.

Join her for 30 minutes of Mat Talk on being bold, breaking down stereotypes and why mum's cuppa is always the best.

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Striking a New Balance

Over her sporting career cyclist and swimmer Kiera Byland has picked up six gold medals at the Special Olympics.

And now she's giving talks to schools and colleges championing the power of sport and taking her experiences from the competitive arena into the boardroom, working as an athlete representative for Special Olympic Great Britain.

Join her for 30 minutes of Mat Talk on developing resilience, re-discovering forgotten talents and cake appreciation.

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Celebrating Success

Kirsty Day and Grace Dyke are two women on a mission.

Passionate about diversifying the media, through their Media Cubs workshops for seven to eleven year olds they not only introduce young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to the skills required to work in a newsroom, they also encourage them to broadcast their confidence and raise their voice.

Join them for 30 minutes of Mat Talk on social enterprise, opening doors to opportunity and "Win Walls"

Find out more about Kirsty, Grace and Media Cubs here

https://www.mediacubs.co.uk

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Doing the Hard Thing

While sipping her first hot cuppa since having her son actress and entrepreneur Vanessa Boland had a spark of genius and turned it into successful business.

Now a hit on social media and with renewed ambitions to return to the stage after two and half years away she's looking forward to a future combining both of her passions - the arts and business.

Join her for 30 minutes of mat talk on smashing through the insta-perfect lifestyle myth, the importance of self-care and coconut cappuccino.

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Planting Acorns

Olivier Award winner Pippa Stacey is a writer who really took the quote “if there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it” quite literally.

Using her own experiences of navigating higher education with a chronic illness she's created the guide for students she wished she'd had when she was heading off to university.

Join her for 30 minutes of Mat Talk on making progress, listening to other perspectives and the power of a onesie.

Connect with Pippa and find out more about her book here:

https://www.lifeofpippa.co.uk

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Beacons of Hope

Kgothatso 'KG' Montjane is one of the women to watch on court. She didn't even pick up a racket, or know about tennis for that matter, until she was nineteen but has gone on to break into the top eight of the women's wheelchair tennis rankings, compete at the Grand Slams and travel to three Paralympic Games - Beijing, London and Rio.

And now a title contender, whilst we won't see her at the US Open this year having opted not to play the 2020 event, she's back in South Africa training hard and still aiming for her first Grand Slam title and a podium position at the rescheduled Tokyo Games in 2021.

Join her for 30 minutes of Mat Talk on the importance of changing things up a bit, raising your voice and the value of kindness.

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Pressing Reset

Swimmer Tully Kearney should have been out in Tokyo this week competing for a place on the podium at what would have been her first Paralympics.

But with the Games rescheduled to 2021, the seven-time World Champion has been giving back to the community and raising money for the charity she is patron of instead.

In our Dystonia Awareness Month special join her for 30 minutes of Mat Talk about ignoring the doubters, establishing new goals, and creating a water park in your garden.

Follow Tully's fundraising challenge here: https://www.dystoniaaroundtheworld.org/fundraisers/tullykearney/around-the-world

Find out more about dystonia here: https://www.dystonia.org.uk

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Discovering New Talents 

Award-winning comedian Katie Pritchard was due to do her debut hour at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer, well until the country went into lockdown a few months before it was due to happen.

With all her live gigs cancelled since March, she's set about discovering her artistic talents and for a small fee she can "ruin" your photo or "spoil" your t-shirt, all in the name of keeping you smiling.

Join her for our season two premiere as she gives us 30 minutes of Mat Talk on adapting her style of comedy for online, lasagna and getting harshly critiqued by your parents.

Connect with Katie: https://linktr.ee/katiepritchards

Have a go at her cultural exchange: https://www.facebook.com/Chichifitwithlauren

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