The VIP Pod: The Visually Impaired People Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the tenth episode of the second series, Warren and Emma talk to Bernie Reddington and her daughter, Abbie.

Bernie lives in Norwich and is a single mother of three. Mum and daughter Abbie, both visually impaired, talk about family life and guide dogs. Bernie is full of fun and works for the RNIB as Regional Campaigns officer which enables her, with her upbeat style, to tirelessly campaign for rights for the blind. There was so much to keep us hooked, that we have divided her story into two episodes.

This episode was recorded in September 2022

Do feel free to get in touch with the team with feedback or future guest suggestions by emailing [email protected]

Interviewed by Warren Wilson & Emma Martins

Recorded & edited by Film, Television & Media students at the University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ

Produced by Emma Martins



Podcast artwork by Jimmy Scofield

Website: www.jimmyscofield.com

Contact: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the ninth episode of the second series, Emma talks to Tony Giles.

Tony is totally blind and 80% deaf in both ears but is a writer and intrepid solo world traveller, having visited over 130 countries. Tony has written three books about his travel experiences. Listen to how he copes with the trials and tribulations of traveling VI. See his website for his latest travels in Namibia. www.tonythetraveller.com

This episode was recorded remotely in March 2022

Do feel free to get in touch with the team with feedback or future guest suggestions by emailing [email protected]

Interviewed by Emma Martins

Recorded & edited by Film, Television & Media students at the University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ

Produced by Emma Martins



Podcast artwork by Jimmy Scofield

Website: www.jimmyscofield.com

Contact: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the eighth episode of the second series, Emma talks to David Clarke who joined the RNIB In 2018 as Director of Services. This has enabled him to combine his lived experience of sight loss with his commercial experience. David attended Schools for the Blind from the age of 3, having been born with congenital glaucoma. He has represented Great Britain in England’s blind football team an impressive 144 times, scoring a total of 128 goals. David‘s story reflects his humour and determination.

This episode was recorded remotely in March 2022.

Do feel free to get in touch with the team with feedback or future guest suggestions by emailing [email protected]

Interviewed by Emma Martins

Recorded & edited by Film, Television & Media students at the University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ

Produced by Emma Martins



Podcast artwork by Jimmy Scofield

Website: www.jimmyscofield.com

Contact: [email protected]

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Intro music is "Ghost Byzantine" by Blue Dot Sessions, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License via the Free Music Archive.

Interlude and Outro music is "Dead River" by Blue Dot Sessions, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License via the Free Music Archive

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the seventh episode of the second series, Emma talks to Mandy Redvers-Rowe, who had many operations throughout her teenage years. Registered blind at 16, she went to an all-Girls school for the Blind. She now has very little vision and uses her profile to campaign for Disabled People. Mandy has two children, lives in the Wirral and writes for television, radio and stage. 

This episode was recorded remotely in April 2022.

Do feel free to get in touch with the team with feedback or future guest suggestions by emailing [email protected]

Interviewed by Emma Martins

Produced by Emma Martins

Recorded & edited by Film, Television & Media students at the University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ



Podcast artwork by Jimmy Scofield

Website: www.jimmyscofield.com

Contact: [email protected]

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Intro music is "Ghost Byzantine" by Blue Dot Sessions, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License via the Free Music Archive.

Interlude and Outro music is "Dead River" by Blue Dot Sessions, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License via the Free Music Archive

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the sixth episode of the second series, Warren talks to comedian, actor and writer Georgie Morrell. In this episode we speak about how Georgie got into the entertainment industry, who her inspirations were and how her family environment supported her on her way into this industry. We spoke with her about being a visually impaired woman in the comedy world and how, if at all, this effects her experience working in comedy. We also spoke about a Metro article Georgie wrote about her own experience of losing sight when she was 21 and how this gave her a new perspective on the important role the voice of disabled people has to play in the conversation around body image. Please see a link to this Metro article below. We also touched upon the importance of positive, realistic representations of disabled people in the media in order to paint a positive and accurate picture of the lives of disabled people. As part of this conversation Warren referenced the BBC programme, 'Then Barbara Met Alan', a show that revolves around a couple who met at a gig and went onto become activists, influencing the creation of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act. We finally spoke with Georgie about tips she would share with us around how others may like to make their way in the entertainment industry. Huge thank you to Georgie for her time and for speaking so openly with us.

Georgie Morrell's website: http://georgiemorrell.co.uk/#about

Georgie's Metro article referenced in this podcast: https://metro.co.uk/2021/10/28/losing-my-eyesight-at-21-helped-me-overcome-my-body-confidence-issues-15495028/

BBC film, 'Then Barbara Met Alan': https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0015p4q

This episode was recorded remotely in March 2022.

Do feel free to get in touch with the team with feedback or future guest suggestions by emailing [email protected]

Interviewed by Warren Wilson

Produced by Emma Martins

Recorded & edited by Film, Television & Media students at the University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ



Podcast artwork by Jimmy Scofield

Website: www.jimmyscofield.com

Contact: [email protected]

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Intro music is "Ghost Byzantine" by Blue Dot Sessions, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License via the Free Music Archive.

Interlude and Outro music is "Dead River" by Blue Dot Sessions, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License via the Free Music Archive

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the fifth episode of the second series, Emma talks to Chris Fisher who is a woodturner, has the very rare condition of Toxoplasmosis, aged 39. He went completely blind overnight – he tells us in his lovely upbeat way how he is able to do his craft, and how important music is to him. 

This episode was recorded remotely in December 2021.

Do feel free to get in touch with the team with feedback or future guest suggestions by emailing [email protected]

Interviewed by Emma Martins

Produced by Emma Martins

Recorded & edited by Film, Television & Media students at the University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ



Podcast artwork by Jimmy Scofield

Website: www.jimmyscofield.com

Contact: [email protected]

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Intro music is "Ghost Byzantine" by Blue Dot Sessions, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License via the Free Music Archive.

Interlude and Outro music is "Dead River" by Blue Dot Sessions, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License via the Free Music Archive

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the fourth episode of the second series, Emma talks to Paul Ryb who lost his central vision overnight in 2007 aged just 37, but amazingly 11 years later he won a World title for GB at the world's first International Blind Tennis Tournament - in which specially audible balls are used. Paul worked as an Investment Banker for over 30 years and now devotes his time to Ophthalmic innovation in the hunt for curing some of the numerous eye diseases. Paul sits on the board of the 2 UK ophthalmic research grant committees at the Macular Society, and Fight for Sight, is an Ambassador for Blind in Business, and Sight & Sound Technology, as well as recording 4 podcasts for the RNIB during his time as a board Trustee, to help the VI community see below. Paul comes from London and tells us about his amazing journey from always having had bad eyesight as a child, to the benefits of living in London and being VI.  

Living and succeeding with Sightloss: https://audioboom.com/playlists/4633612-paul-ryb-podcasts

This episode was recorded remotely in March 2022.

Do feel free to get in touch with the team with feedback or future guest suggestions by emailing [email protected]

Interviewed by Emma Martins

Produced by Emma Martins

Recorded & edited by Film, Television & Media students at the University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ



Podcast artwork by Jimmy Scofield

Website: www.jimmyscofield.com

Contact: [email protected]

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Intro music is "Ghost Byzantine" by Blue Dot Sessions, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License via the Free Music Archive.

Interlude and Outro music is "Dead River" by Blue Dot Sessions, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License via the Free Music Archive

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the third episode of the second series, Emma talks to Benjamin Wilson who is a visually impaired actor, and is passionate about making theatre more accessible for the blind and visually impaired, promoting the wider use of audio description. He comes from Yorkshire and currently works as Associate Director in various theatres in the north of England. He lost his sight in his 20s although this had been diagnosed since he was aged 8.

This episode was recorded remotely in April 2022.

Do feel free to get in touch with the team with feedback or future guest suggestions by emailing [email protected]

Interviewed by Emma Martins

Produced by Emma Martins

Recorded & edited by Film, Television & Media students at the University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ



Podcast artwork by Jimmy Scofield

Website: www.jimmyscofield.com

Contact: [email protected]

---------------------------------------------------

Intro music is "Ghost Byzantine" by Blue Dot Sessions, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License via the Free Music Archive.

Interlude and Outro music is "Dead River" by Blue Dot Sessions, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License via the Free Music Archive

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second episode of the second series, Emma talks to Joey Stuckey who is an incredible blind guitarist, songwriter, singer, composer, producer, and radio and television personality. He lives in the USA in Macon, Georgia, where he is their Music Ambassador, and he tells his story of being virtually blind since birth due to a brain tumour and a childhood surrounded by his parent’s music. He owns and runs a recording studio, is a music educator at two universities and an accessibility advocate. He describes himself as a blind brain tumour survivor and is a very charismatic and fun guy still performing on the road with his various bands. Enjoy Joey’s story along with some of his music which includes blues, country and rock music. See www.joeystuckey.com 

This episode was recorded remotely in April 2022.

Do feel free to get in touch with the team with feedback or future guest suggestions by emailing [email protected]

Interviewed by Emma Martins

Produced by Emma Martins

Recorded & edited by Film, Television & Media students at the University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ



Podcast artwork by Jimmy Scofield

Website: www.jimmyscofield.com

Contact: [email protected]

---------------------------------------------------

Intro music is "Ghost Byzantine" by Blue Dot Sessions, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License via the Free Music Archive.

Interlude and Outro music is "Dead River" by Blue Dot Sessions, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License via the Free Music Archive

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.