In this addition of the Kiwi and the emu,Episode 31, We speak with Nerissa and Ian Cassell who are Elise and Karen’s Auntie and Uncle who an’t , that is to say that everybody who is a grownup who comes over to your house when you were three and four years old had to be called “Aunty and Uncle” as that is what we did in those days.

Karen Lonsdale, AKA ‘Mumma Kazz Lonsdale”, is back to help her sister, Elise Lonsdale and her co-host Carolyn Peat to interview these two very special people in their lives.

Nerissa and Ian are from Melbourne, however before COVID-19 would often travel in there Mobile home to many interesting places around Australia as they are Grey nomads and all their own children are now off their hands.

Nerissa and Ian had a great social life prior to COVID-19 and frequented many pubs in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne participating in trivia. They also enjoyed many fish and chip nights at various friends places including Elise’s home in Ringwood and partys at Mumma Kazz’s now world famous front porch.

As a person who has low vision, Nerissa also talks about a highly visual game that she plays on her iPad called “SongPop”, which due to changes in the modern versions of that app is becoming increasingly difficult to play.

This is quite a colourful episode as Elise and Nerissa reminisce about the first day they met when Elise was only four years old. They talk about that colourful journey speech that Elise did in Toastmasters which is also available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/54zx-7G vSLQ

Don't forget to stay tuned for the lighter moment section.

You can find the Kiwi and the Emu Podcast in Apple Podcast, Spotify, Downcast, Overcast and wherever good podcasts are found.

In this addition of the Kiwi and the emu, We have made it all the way to Episode 30, where we return to Auckland NZ and interview one of our own, Carolyn Peat. Karen Lonsdale, AKA, Mumma Kazz Lonsdale returns this time in a fuller role to help her sister, Elise Lonsdale to Interview Carolyn.

Carolyn describes her role working on a review committee, her role at BlindCitizens New Zealand and dining in the dark. She also tells us what life was like prior to the Coronavirus.

Just before the Coronavirus pandemic really got underway, her father had an accident which required many months in hospital and much rehabilitation. Carolyn also discusses how this impacted on her family, visiting hours, access to her father and how the restrictions affected him.

Don't forget to stay tuned for the lighter moment section.

You can find the Kiwi and the Emu Podcast in Apple Podcast, Spotify, Downcast, Overcast and wherever good podcasts are found. You can also use the links below to find it on the Anchor site.

In this addition of the Kiwi and the emu,Episode 29, We go to the mid north coast of New South Wales to talk to the blind Australian of the year, Adam Morris.

Adam describes what his life was like for him and his wife, Di prior to the Coronavirus and the shutdowns in New South Wales. He describes how things are now in NSW. Adam also talks about his interest in Judo.

Don't forget to stay tuned for the lighter moment section.

You can find the Kiwi and the Emu Podcast in Apple Podcast, Spotify, Downcast, Overcast and wherever good podcasts are found. You can also use the links below to find it on the Anchor site.

In this addition of the Kiwi and the emu,Episode 28, We speak with Maggie Rush from West Auckland New Zealand.

Maggie describes her life prior to COVID-19, talks about her craft group, blindness groups that she attended and how the lockdowns in NZ have affected her family and friends.

Maggie is a lot of fun to talk to and I'm sure you will agree, this will be a great episode. Please enjoy.

Don't forget to stay tuned for the lighter moment section.

You can find the Kiwi and the Emu Podcast in Apple Podcast, Spotify, Downcast, Overcast and wherever good podcasts are found.

In this addition of the Kiwi and the emu,Episode 27, It is Elise Lonsdale’s turn to sit in the Corona Chair and face her own Niece, Madison Rendall and her co-host Carolyn Peat.

When it was announced in July that Melbourne was going into a second stage three lockdown, Elise accepted an invitation from her sister, Karen Lonsdale to spend that time with her and the rest of the family rather than be on her own.

Elise talks about the way she feels about the second lockdown, the way government have handled it and how much she appreciates spending time with the family and reacquainting herself and family values.

Who gets to pack the dishwasher, who cooks the meals, who shouts fish-n-chips on a Friday night and how much homeschooling gets done?

In the Lighter Moments segment near the end, Madison gets to discuss her love of hair, makeup, fashion and clothing and how much she appreciates having her Aunty Elise around the home to help with her homeschooling.

You can find the Kiwi and the Emu Podcast in Apple Podcast, Spotify, Downcast, Overcast and wherever good podcasts are found. You can also use the links below to find it on the Anchor site.

In this addition of the Kiwi and the emu,Episode 26, we go to Wollongong New South Wales to talk to Maria Chapman. Maria looks after her elderly Italian mother and her indigenous husband. She discusses the impact on her mother's social life at the local RSL, shopping centre and other activities as well as how it has affected her husband’s indigenous support group.

Maria also discusses the impact on her own personal life as well as her fears of how the virus may affect her two love ones who are living in the same house as her if they were to contract it.

You can find the Kiwi and the Emu Podcast in Apple Podcast, Spotify, Downcast, Overcast and wherever good podcasts are found. You can also use the links below to find it on the Anchor site.

In this special addition of the Kiwi and the emu,Episode 25, we talk to Lana and Don Thompson from Perth WA.

They tell us about the things they did before the Perth shutdown in march and how they have emerged. Western Australia is enjoying relatively normal life compare to other parts of Australia right now.

Carolyn Peat from Auckland New Zealand and Elise Lonsdale from Melbourne Australia interview blind and low vision guests about how the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdowns across Australia and New Zealand are affecting people and their work, home life and families.

You can find the Kiwi and the Emu Podcast in Apple Podcast, Spotify, Downcast, Overcast and wherever good podcasts are found. You can also use the links below to find it on the Anchor site.

In this special addition of the Kiwi and the emu,Episode 24, we talk to Mary Schnackenberg & Clive Lansink from Auckland NZ.

They tell us about Mary’s Braille transcription business, the advocacy that they do for people and how they were supporting people to ask the right questions when it comes to disability support through the level four lockdown in New Zealand.

Clive and Elise discussed Law and border closures and there is always plenty of talk about guidedogs.

Carolyn Peat from Auckland New Zealand and Elise Lonsdale from Melbourne Australia interview blind and low vision guests about how the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdowns across Australia and New Zealand are affecting people and their work, home life and families.

You can find the Kiwi and the Emu Podcast in Apple Podcast, Spotify, Downcast, Overcast and wherever good podcasts are found. You can also use the links below to find it on the Anchor site.

Episode 23 of the Kiwi and the Emu.

In episode 23 of the Kiwi and the Emu, we travel to Palmerston North New Zealand and speak with Kylee Maloney who is an award-winning broadcaster, public speaker and musician. 

Kylee discusses how the level four lockdown affected her and her household. 

She gives us an insight into depression and how her confidence has been knocked around when travelling and attending noisy events such as her trivia nights.

Depression is a serious factor when it comes to blind people and the way the various COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions have affected our blindness and low vision community.

Kylee also discusses her experiences with Toastmasters and how going Online to Toastmasters meetings and contests have not been the best option for her.

Carolyn Peat from Auckland New Zealand and Elise Lonsdale from Melbourne Australia interview blind and low vision and now on occasion cited guests about how the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdowns across Australia and New Zealand are affecting people and their work, home life and families.   

You can find the Kiwi and the Emu Podcast in Apple Podcast, Spotify, Downcast, Overcast and wherever good podcasts are found. You can also use the links below to find it on the Anchor site.

Episode 22 of the Kiwi and the Emu.

This is the first episode where we speak with somebody who is not actually blind or has low vision. Lea Nagel from Victoria’s Statewide Vision Resource Centre, SVRC, speaks to us on how their flagship support skills program has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lea talks to us about the lead up to the first Victorian lockdown and how they needed to move the Support Skills Program from a weekly event where kids who are blind or have low vision attend the centre to an online version.

The online version of the Support Skills Program has worked and Lee speaks to us how this was achieved and some of the fun and lighter moments during the transition. She also praisers both staff and students of the Support Skills Program on how well everyone has enjoyed the experience and how much people have learned.

The topic of Braille and literacy also comes into the conversation and it is too SVRC’s Credit that Braille is such an important part of their contribution to the lives of School age children who are blind or have low vision in the state of Victoria.

Carolyn Peat from Auckland New Zealand and Elise Lonsdale from Melbourne Australia interview blind and low vision and now on occasion cited guests about how the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdowns across Australia and New Zealand are affecting people and their work, home life and families.

You can find the Kiwi and the Emu Podcast in Apple Podcast, Spotify, Downcast, Overcast and wherever good podcasts are found. You can also use the links below to find it on the Anchor site.