Saran Chamberlain shares her journey as a young stroke survivor, from experiencing a life-changing event at 38 to becoming a national advocate for the stroke community.

• Initially misdiagnosed as a migraine, the stroke left her entire left side paralysed with no sensation
• Saran discusses the challenges of identity shift and the unseen deficits like fatigue, depression, and sensory overload
• Highlights the isolation younger stroke survivors often face in healthcare and rehabilitation settings
• Saran works on research co-design, speaks openly about stigma, and supports other survivors as a mentor.
• Emphasises the importance of meaningful inclusion of people with lived experience in research using "nothing about us without us" principles
• Believes in taking small wins and finding hope in the lifelong journey of post-stroke life

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Join us as we welcome Shaylee Raye Hunter, Miss Petite Utah, who shares her journey as an advocate for women's rights and disability visibility. Shaylee opens up about her personal lived experiences with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO), gastroparesis, and short bowel syndrome. In an open discussion, she shares how she manages her health conditions with medical interventions, such as a feeding tube and TPN, providing a unique glimpse into her life and the lifeline she depends on daily to receive the nutrients essential to life.

We learn about the challenges Shaylee faced at school due to the assumptions made by other students about her health, as well as the subsequent difficulties she encountered in dating and the workplace.

Shaylee is passionate about advocating for disability visibility through her pageant platform.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please get in touch with your healthcare practitioner.

Hosted by Chantal Boyle and Lynn Smith, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and share it to increase awareness and understanding of non-visible disabilities.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

Téa Runback shares her personal journey living with multiple invisible disabilities, including autism, ADHD, and a collection of autoimmune conditions, while highlighting the barriers faced in healthcare and employment settings.

Kate Middleton, CEO of The Wren Project, joins us for a special edition as part of the Podcasthon, which seeks to spotlight thousands of charities.

In this episode, Kate shares her personal journey with multiple autoimmune diseases and explains how the body attacks itself instead of viruses. The Wren Project pairs individuals with dedicated volunteers for up to six months of regular support. It provides vital mental health support through dedicated listening services to those living with these often non-invisible conditions, giving an essential lifeline to address and support feelings of isolation and loneliness.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support and information:

• The Wren Project

Discover more episodes as part of Podcasthon:

• Podcasthon
  
  

Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and share it to increase awareness and understanding of non-visible disabilities.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

In this episode, we chat with Elisha Samuels, who recently won Hidden Disability Personality of the Year at The Empowerment Awards by Talks with MS. The award was sponsored by Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and presented by our podcast host, Chantal.

Elisha shares her own unique experiences of living with multiple sclerosis, discussing her challenges, the importance of a supportive workplace, societal perceptions of living with a non-visible disability, and the Sunflower's value in making the invisible visible and its contribution to evoking dialogue about inclusivity and awareness.

Elisha's poem, "Burnout" gives an insight to the challenges she has overcome and why she feels she received the nomination for the award.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support:

• Talks with MS 
• The MS Society 
• MS Ireland

Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and share it to increase awareness and understanding of non-visible disabilities.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

“...we really need more representation of this so we can smash these attitudes for all disabilities.”

Peta Hooke interviews Zoe, a disabled journalist, copyright, author and public speaker. Zoe is a passionate advocate fighting against ableism and removing the stigma. She discusses attitudinal barriers and how someone may have a disability that is not visible, but their reactions are, and we should pay attention to this. 

Although Zoe is yet to receive appropriate support wearing the Sunflower, she believes it can benefit many people like her with greater public awareness.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them. It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities. 
 
 

A big thank you to Peta Hooke for conducting the interviews with compassion and respect and to Sandee Facy for the beautiful Sunflower song. You can follow Peta's I can't stand podcast here and Sandee Facy's music here.

If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Karen Thackray from DEBRA UK and Lisa Irvine joined us to discuss the rare skin condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB), sometimes known as butterfly skin.

Lisa and her daughter live with EB and offer first-hand insights into the genetic skin condition that causes painful blisters. Karen breaks down the four main types of EB and their varying impacts. Through our conversation, we aim to raise awareness and foster a deeper understanding of EB as a dynamic disability that causes severe pain, as well as the emotional toll of constant adaptation to manage and care for the skin and judgement of strangers.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support:

• DEBRA UK 
• DEBRA Ireland 
• DEBRA International 

Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
  
If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Follow us on socials: 

https://www.facebook.com/hiddendisabilitiessunflower/

https://www.instagram.com/sunflowerlanyardscheme/?hl=en

https://www.youtube.com/@hiddendisabilitiessunflower 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hidden-disabilities

 
 Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website 

Chris Stratta from The Leprosy Missions is our guest this week on the podcast to educate us about how Leprosy, a curable disease often associated with stigma, affects thousands globally today. This episode explores its symptoms, the challenges those diagnosed face, and the critical role of education in combatting fear and discrimination.

We discuss the importance of early detection and treatment to eradicate Leprosy, which is found in countries with poor sanitation and nutrition.

Education is crucial in fostering kind and supportive communities so people affected by leprosy can live full lives.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support and to get involved:

• The Leprosy Mission International
• The Leprosy Mission Northern Ireland
• The Leprosy Mission UK

Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

“I think it's important for people to realise that disabled people can be successful.”

Peta Hooke interviews Amelia, a queer, autistic and very opinionated social justice advocate (her words). 

Amelia combines the professional expertise as a social worker with her personal understanding of the intricacies of living with a non-obvious disability and talks about some of the unique challenges that often go unnoticed. Amelia demonstrates how someone can use the Sunflower to be seen and validated without explaining.

For more information about Autism, please visit https://hdsunflower.com/au/insights/post/autism


If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them. It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities. 
 
 

A big thank you to Peta Hooke for conducting the interviews with compassion and respect and to Sandee Facy for the beautiful Sunflower song. You can follow Peta's I can't stand podcast here and Sandee Facy's music here.

If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Join us as we welcome Lauren von Stackelberg, the Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at the LEGO Group, to the podcast to learn more about the new Sunflower customisable minifigures and LEGO sets featuring the official Sunflower.

Lauren leads us through the iconic toy brand’s disability inclusion journey that started in 2011 beginning with a LEGO DUPLO character in a wheelchair, expanding over time to include the first Minifigure in a wheelchair, hearing aids, cochlear implants, a Minifigure with visual impairment and a guide dog, Minifigures with prosthetics, stoma bags, innovative products like the LEGO Braille bricks, and today, the addition of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard.

We hear why the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is essential to the company’s progressive approach to supporting disability inclusion and reducing stigma and how it goes beyond individual toys but also includes the design of the sets to accommodate the characters within it.

For more information:

The LEGO Group


Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website