Ouch! Disability Talk Show: Recent Episodes
BBC
Every month, Rob Crossan and Kate Monaghan present the programme you didn’t know you wanted to hear. It's disability from a fresh angle featuring interviews, discussion and the occasional quiz. The (disabled) presenters dissect and analyse recent events with interest and a good dose of healthy humour.
Presenters Seaneen and Mark trade their own war stories about work. Joining them is CEO of the Business Disability Forum, Diane Lightfoot, who helps big companies employ (and keep) disabled staff.
Disability Passports, advance statements and reasonable adjustments - learn the jargon and how to use it at work.
Our new catchily named feature Maladaptive Coping Strategy of the Month has an airing. Plus, um, chip shops.
With Mark Brown and Seaneen Molloy. Produced by Emma Tracey
Aruba had never had a Paralympic team until Shardea Arias de la Cruz, a student in her 20s, decided to make it happen.
From finding her first athlete at the supermarket, to his sudden disappearance at the Rio Games, it has been a story of jeopardy, hustling and absolute belief.
The charismatic Elliott Loonstra is the island's hope for Tokyo 2020. After working at a scuba dive shop at the weekends and spending his week-days training on Aruba's idyllic beaches, Elliott's ready to take on Tokyo in the para-taekwondo. And it's the first time the sport has featured at a Paralympic Games.
Presented by Beth Rose.
Subscribe to this podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
Libby Clegg MBE and Samantha Kinghorn, two of Britain’s top female Paralympians, describe their journeys to Tokyo 2020.
Libby Clegg won gold at Rio 2016 then dealt with mental health difficulties directly afterwards. She’s defending her Athletics Women's 200m T11 title.
Samantha Kinghorn became disabled aged 14 and started wheelchair racing to look cool in front of her friends. She lost out at the 2016 Paralympics because she wasn’t mentally prepared but has already won a bronze medal in the Athletics Women's 100m T53 at Tokyo. She will also race in the 400m and 800m .
Samantha and Libby spoke to disabled sports fan Michael McEwan for BBC Radio Scotland.
Boccia is not just a sport, but a family affair for the McCowan family.
Brothers, Scott and Jamie, who both have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, play Boccia for ParaGB while their parents, Gary and Linda, are their ramp assistants.
It's created quite the competition between the brothers - especially during lockdown when they turned their living room into a Boccia court so they could continue training.
But what's it like to live with your biggest rival? How often do they argue over match results? And what happens when husband and wife are pitted against each other in a match?
Presented by Beth Rose
Subscribe to this podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
Caz Walton was just 17 when she competed at the 1964 Paralympic Games in Tokyo and won gold for Great Britain.
From the wheelchair slalom to organiser of athletes, Paralympic legend Caz Walkon has had quite the sports career.
After a memorable opening ceremony in Japan with Crown Prince Akihito, Caz went on to win several gold medals, notably in the wheelchair dash and wheelchair slalom - two sports that no longer appear in the Games.
Over the next four decades she won 10 gold medals ... and a mysterious 11th has just come to light...
Now aged 74, Caz still works for ParaGB and is out in Tokyo supporting this year's team.
Presented by Beth Rose Edited by Drew Miller Hindman
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The world's eyes are on Tokyo with the Paralympic Games taking place - but what's it like to live in Japan if you're disabled?
Mizuki Hsu grew up in Kyoto as a wheelchair-user. Now a mother-of-two and working for Google she says job hunting in Japan can be fraught if you disclose you're disabled - which you have to for its quota system.
Josh Grisdale was born and raised in Canada, but became a Japanese citizen a few years ago. He says the accessible bathroom situation and electronic toilets in Japan are tip-top but accessible escalators are terrifying contraptions.
From house-hunting to nights out, we've got it covered in this whistle-stop tour of Japan.
Presented by Beth Rose. Produced by Damon Rose.
Subscribe to this podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
With just days to go before the Tokyo Paralympics, an international campaign called WeThe15 has been launched to improve the lives of the 1.2bn disabled people around the world.
Meet Eddie Ndopu. He is an internationally acclaimed writer, or “mover and shaker”, who also works for the United Nations. Eddie, disabled himself, gives us the lowdown of WeThe15 on this podcast. You’ll love him.
He also hopes to become the first disabled person in space. While he might have signed several NDAs on these “imminent” plans, Eddie couldn’t help but spill some of the secrets to BBC Ouch.
According to the World Health Organisation, 15% of the world’s population is disabled, hence WeThe15. Spearheaded by the International Paralympic Committee and International Disability Alliance, the project has brought together organisations from Unesco to The Valuable 500 big businesses for the first time.
Presented by Beth Rose and Emma Tracey.
Indy car driver Sam Schmidt was paralysed from the shoulders down when he reversed into a wall at 200 miles an hour.
This summer, and more than 20 years after his accident, Sam made his second racing debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
He drives using a special straw that he “sips and puffs” to accelerate and brake, and cameras that use his head movements to steer.
BBC Disability Correspondent Nikki Fox chats to Sam about learning to drive again and how this technology could help other disabled people get behind the wheel.
Produced by Drew Miller Hyndman.
Subscribe to this podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
Love Island is back in full swing and this year it features its first ever physically disabled contestant. Hugo Hammond is a 24-year-old PE teacher who was born with a club foot.
The show’s producers have previously said the villa can’t be adapted for disabled contestants due the cost of insurance and "budget constraints" - and with Hugo’s disability they didn’t have to change anything.
But we, at BBC Ouch, were wondering – could the Love Island villa be made accessible? And if so, how much would it cost?
BBC entertainment reporter Alex Taylor, Kamran Mallick, the CEO of Disability Rights UK and access consultant Natasha Davies all get grafting to see if accessibility and Love Island can couple up – or will it lead to someone getting pied?
Presented and produced by Keiligh Baker.
The end of lockdown is nigh for many of us! Legal restrictions on mask wearing and social distancing in England are going, the other nations are taking it more slowly.
Disability charities like Sense and Scope, are warning disabled people could be "left behind".
On this week's podcast we hear from two disabled people about their apprehension and anticipation for the end of lockdown. From going out in their community and using public transport again, to getting back to school and college and finding the confidence to shop alone. What will 'Freedom Day' mean for disabled people?
Presented by Keiligh Baker. Produced by Drew Miller-Hyndman.
Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. And say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker to hear our latest programme. Email ouch@bbc.co.uk if you have a story to tell us about the end of lockdown or anything else.
Warning: This podcast discusses sexual harassment and assault, so there is occasionally some graphic content.
When Dr Amy Kavanagh started using a white cane, she realised she was being sexually harassed far more frequently than when she wasn’t “visibly” disabled.
By 2018, the visually impaired activist decided she’d had enough and started the #JustAskDontGrab campaign on social media. It encourages the public to ask disabled people whether they actually need help, rather than just assuming and diving in – sometimes inappropriately.
It’s something freelance journalist Melissa Parker and inclusion specialist Roxanne Steel, who both have cerebral palsy, can relate to. Melissa has been inappropriately touched in a nightclub under the guise of being “helped” with her bra strap, while Roxanne changed the way she dressed to try and protect herself from unwanted advances.
This ties in with the figures - according to the Office for National Statistics, between March 2015 and 2018 disabled women were almost twice as likely to be sexually assaulted (5.7%) compared with non-disabled women (3.0%):
If you, or someone you know, have been affected by sexual or street harassment, the organisations listed on the link below may be able to help. If you are in immediate danger, you should dial 999.
Presented by Keiligh Baker.
Visit the BBC Action Line page for Information and Support on Sexual Abuse and Violence for more help and support.
Kate Monaghan has a painful energy-zapping condition, her wife Holly is on immuno-suppressants and they have two small children. Adjusting to the world as lockdown relaxes has been eventful.
Their five-year-old had been at school until positive cases of Covid had been identified in her year. Now she's back to isolating at home... and it's somehow not as simple as before.
For Holly, the idea of starting to hug people again feels alien and unnecessary whilst Kate says simple activities she used to enjoy now fill her with anxiety.
Produced by Amy Elizabeth.
If you want to message Kate or ask her a question, email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk. Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
As Covid restrictions ease in the UK, our presenters share their mental health travel stories.
Why is Seaneen banned from using one of the budget airlines? Why does Mark stay in hotels instead of with family? And identical twins Claire and Laura explain why seeing the world helps them stay well.
We come up with ideas that the travel industry could implement to make life easier for people with mental health difficulties and explore why being told to get out into nature for therapeutic reasons can feel frustrating.
With Mark Brown and Seaneen Molloy
Produced by Emma Tracey.
Write to Mark and Seaneen: ouch@bbc.co.uk Hear the two regularly on Ouch. Subscribe to the Ouch podcast on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker to hear our latest programme.
Warning: This podcast discusses domestic abuse and sexual violence with occasional graphic content.
Ebere* was 31 when she finally fled Nigeria for the UK to study, with hopes she had left domestic abuse behind. But a new relationship soon turned controlling, then violent and brought back memories of the sexual and physical abuse she had experienced as a child. As a black, disabled, queer woman, Ebere has experienced abuse throughout her life and struggled to find an accessible refuge when she needed it most. She hopes that by telling her story, and how she survived, it will help other women to leave abusive situations.
Produced and presented by Keiligh Baker.
*not her real name.
If you, or someone you know, have been affected by domestic abuse or violence, the organisations listed on the links below may be able to help. If you are in immediate danger, you should dial 999.
Visit the BBC Action Line page for Information and Support on Domestic Abuse: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3FQFSnx6SZWsQn3TJYYlFNy/information-and-support-domestic-abuse
Or the BBC Action Line page for Information and Support on Sexual Abuse and violence: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/22VVM5LPrf3pjYdKqctmMXn/information-and-support-sexual-abuse-and-violence
Warning: This podcast discusses domestic abuse with occasional graphic content.
Emma Dalmayne was just 17-years-old when she fled her abusive partner with her baby. Emma, who is autistic, has experienced violence at the hands of two ex-partners and has lived in a women's refuge. Saliha Rashid faced honour-based violence from her family. As a blind woman she thought they were being protective, until she went to university and realised their behaviour was abuse. It took her three attempts to escape.
According to the statistics, disabled people are three times more likely to experience domestic abuse - but why is this? Emma, Saliha and Sara Cincurova, a journalist and former domestic abuse support worker, tell their stories and discuss what needs to be done to improve the situation.
Presented by Keiligh Baker.
If you, or someone you know, have been affected by domestic abuse or violence, the organisations listed on the links below may be able to help. If you are in immediate danger, you should dial 999.
Visit the BBC Action Line page for Information and Support on Domestic Abuse or the BBC Action Line page for honour violence and forced marriage. Subscribe with BBC Sounds and say to your smart speaker "Ask the BBC for Ouch"
Seaneen has a bipolar diagnosis, so when she experienced sudden and severe anxiety after having baby Jack in January, the perinatal mental health team came straight away.
A medication increase caused further difficulties and an infection landed her in A&E. Recovering now, she feels "robbed" of Jack’s first golden month and worries what impact it has had on him.
Plus, we discuss how to talk to your child about Mummy or Daddy's mental health difficulties. And there’s another clanger from the Book of Awkward Questions.
Presented by Mark Brown and Seaneen Molloy. Produced by Emma Tracey.
Subscribe with BBC Sounds and say to your smart speaker "Ask the BBC for Ouch"
Reach our presenters by email: ouch@bbc.co.uk
Our lockdown couple Kate and Holly adopted a toddler with restricted growth during the pandemic. She calms down around dogs, but does she really need therapeutic assistance from an animal?
And we drop back in on Kate's story about living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome whilst mostly shielding. She has been offered an operation to help her endometriosis and wonders if she should have paid more attention to a diagnosis of something called FND.
The podcast also witnesses Kate's first attempt at using hormone replacement gel as she wonders where to put it (Prepare for cheeky humor)
If you've enjoyed this series and have any advice or thoughts to share with Kate, please email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk
Produced by Amy Elizabeth. Subscribe to Ouch's podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
The day has finally arrived!
After many months of lockdown we’re all finally allowed to meet friends and family – outside and in groups of six or as two households.
For Kate, the relaxation means she can see her family, but will her mobility issues get in the way and prove problematic?
And for transplant recipient wife Holly, who has been strictly shielding for most of the year, after so long apart will it all feel a bit overwhelming and too awkward to see Kate’s family?
Will there be tears? And how tough will it be to not hug each other?
Produced by Amy Elizabeth.
Subscribe to Ouch's podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
The UK has just marked one year since it officially went into its first Covid-19 lockdown. It’s the anniversary no one wanted.
On this episode we discuss the highs and lows of those 365 days for disabled people across the country.
Nikki Fox, the BBC’s disability correspondent, has spent the past year finding out how disabled people are managing in the pandemic and practicing her ukulele.
She’s joined by Jonny Benjamin MBE, an author, vlogger and mental health campaigner who talks about the rollercoaster of emotions the pandemic brought up for him, and how he ended up in a psychiatric hospital in the middle of it.
BBC Ouch producer and mum Emma Tracey chats about doing the online shop and what lockdown’s been like for blind and visually impaired people, while writer and campaigner Ciara Lawrence reveals what the pandemic has been like for people with learning disabilities - and why she wrote to Boris Johnson.
Presented by Nikki Fox.
Produced by Keiligh Baker.
If you’d like to get in contact with the team, email ouch@bbc.co.uk.
You can hear our latest podcast by saying “Ask the BBC for Ouch” to your smart speaker, plus you can listen and subscribe on the BBC Sounds app.
Kate Monahan has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and her wife Holly is a transplant recipient. Filling out the Census form should take 10 minutes they say but it prompted a big debate for this couple.
Kate also provides some hot advice for teenage girls who have the same condition as her or who live with pain.
If you have any questions you'd like to put to Kate or Holly please email the producer amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk
Maybe you want to know more about adopting a disabled child? Or perhaps you have advice to pass on about how to entertain children that requires minimal physical energy from parents (yes please) or on navigating lockdown life. Drop us a mail.
Produced by Amy Elizabeth.
Subscribe to Ouch's podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
Kate Monaghan has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, her wife Holly is on immunosuppressants, their newly adopted daughter Gracie has dwarfism and four-year-old Scout is returning to school.
Want to know what it's really like navigating the pandemic as a disabled family? Kate and Holly deliver the brutal honesty of parenting in a pandemic… Produced by Amy Elizabeth.
Subscribe to Ouch's podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
Recently journalist Lucy Webster wanted to join a matchmaking website but, before the company took her subscription fee, they warned she might find it difficult. Lucy was upset by the response and shared their email on social media.
On this week's podcast we hear stories from disabled people who have used online dating agencies, as well as speaking to a representative from the industry. What should disabled people expect?
Presented by Keiligh Baker. Produced by Drew Miller-Hyndman.
Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. And say “Ask the BBC for Ouch” to your smart speaker to hear our latest programme. Email ouch@bbc.co.uk if you have a story to tell us about online dating or anything else.
Kate Monahan shares personal moments in this virtual audio diary documenting a family of four in lockdown as a Mum with chronic pain and mobility issues.
Four-year-old Scout returns to school after lockdown and mums Kate and Holly experience a range of emotions - especially when the school ring with some bad news which takes Holly off to the hospital - a place she's been avoiding for a year.
Not just one but two! Holly has a second trip to hospital but this time she has to travel by train because it's all the way down in London. She received a kidney transplant 11 years ago, but will forever be on immunocompromising medication - a constant source of anxiety during this pandemic though she has now had the vaccine.
Produced by Amy Elizabeth.
Subscribe to Ouch's podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
Mark's sister Alison died of covid-19 on 14 January 2021. She was 39. On this episode of Mentally Interesting, He and Seaneen explore grief and how it affects your mental health.
Seaneen gently guides Mark through the story, while he paints a detailed and moving picture of the loss and devastation of losing his beloved sister.
Specialist psychotherapist Julia Samuel brings a professional perspective to the table and suggests how Seaneen might tackle her own debilitating death anxiety.
With Seaneen Molloy and Mark Brown. Produced by Emma Tracey.
Subscribe with BBC Sounds and say to your smart speaker "Ask the BBC for Ouch"
Reach our presenters by email: ouch@bbc.co.uk
Kate Monaghan has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and her wife Holly is immunocompromised, meaning a year of shielding with two young children has been anything but easy!
But recent government announcements mean it's all about to change again for this family – one-year-old Gracie is starting nursery and four-year-old Scout is going back to school.
And it's a bag of mixed emotions for these two Mummas - relief at the idea of normality and an end to home-schooling (yay!) but also fears about sending their babies into the big wide world alone....
Produced by Amy Elizabeth
Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker. If you want to message Kate or ask her a question, email amy.elizabth@bbc.co.uk
With an end now possibly in sight, Kate feels she's letting Holly down. Her painful mobility issues are causing real problems for her this week - she desperately wants to play with the kids but having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome means that even cuddles are a bit too much sometimes.
Home-schooling a four-year-old and entertaining a one-year-old leaves Kate physically and emotionally exhausted, but doesn't her wife deserve some attention too?
Produced by Amy Elizabeth.
Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker. If you want to message Kate or ask her a question, email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk
Dating can be tricky at the best of times, but it can come with a unique set of challenges if you have a learning disability and are LGBT.
Ben Hunte, the BBC's LGBT correspondent, speaks to three people with learning disabilities and explores the social care barriers faced by the community.
Shaun describes how a lack of sex education at special school meant it took him a decade to come out as bisexual. Now he teaches the subject to other people with learning disabilities.
Ray talks about awkward encounters on dating apps and the challenges of navigating trans healthcare with a learning disability.
And Scott tells Ben about the prejudice he faces as a gay man with learning disabilities and why he joined an organisation called Meet and Match.
Producer Ammar Ebrahim Studio Manager Robbie Hayward
Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say “Ask the BBC for Ouch” to your smart speaker.
After immune-compromised Holly had her vaccine last week, Kate has now been called to get hers. Excitement levels are high but she wonders how her body will react to the jab.
Meanwhile, keeping four-year-old Scout and one-year-old Gracie amused is a struggle, until snow brings some welcome fun.
Produced by Amy Elizabeth.
If you want to message Kate or ask her a question, email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk.
Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say “Ask the BBC for Ouch” to your smart speaker.
After almost a year of shielding, Holly gets her Covid-19 vaccination.
What's the process once you arrive at the center? How do you feel afterwards? If a family member sidles in, might they get a spare jab if they're lucky?
Stand by to live vicariously through Holly and hear one ELATED family!
Produced by Amy Elizabeth
Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
If you want to message Kate or ask her a question, email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk
Seaneen Molloy and Mark Brown return with their witty and self-depricating take on mental health. They draw on their personal and professional experiences to talk about the awkward stuff so "you don't have to".
This month they discuss feeling shame which Mark describes as his "personal existential musk".
Seaneen shares what happened when her first child was born as she prepares to give birth again but this time in a pandemic. And The Book of Awkward Questions asks how to tell a new partner your mental health story.
You can hear Mark and Seaneen monthly on the Ouch podcast stream along with Ouch's other programmes. Tell your pals, tell the world and get involved.
Producer Emma Tracey
Write to Mark and Seaneen, they want to hear from you. ouch@bbc.co.uk
Kate Monaghan has decided to attend her grandma's funeral rather than watch online. But, because wife Holly has had her immune system suppressed, Kate must attend solo and sit in the crematorium bubbled away from her extended family
After dropping Kate off, Holly remains in the car outside the crematorium but questions still loom large about whether any of the family should be attending a funeral event at all because the virus could spreadback to Holly… And when exactly will she be getting a date for her vaccination?
This is the third in the second series of Isolation Diaries where Kate documents the complexities of life as a disabled person with her family during the lockdowns.
Produced by Amy Elizabeth.
Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker. If you want to message Kate or ask her a question, email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk
Lockdown with two small children was never going to be easy but this week Kate is getting severe pain due to her impairments especially when trying to play with and cuddle their newly adopted child.
Meanwhile Kate's wife Holly is on an emotional rollercoaster as she awaits a vaccine appointment. She's been shielding for 11 months because she has no immunity system due to meds she is on as a kidney transplant recipient and is finding it tough.
Produced by Amy Elizabeth.
Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
If you want to message Kate or ask her a question, email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk
Ahead of their new documentary, Harvey and Katie Price join Emma Tracey for a Zoom chat.
While Harvey’s pasta cooks, he tells us about his love of frogs, trains and drawing. Katie describes the search for a residential college that’s best placed to support her disabled son.
We also hear about Harvey’s new house, how he loves holidays and why those who know him join in with all his favourite phrases.
UK viewers can watch Katie Price: Harvey and Me on Monday 25 January at 20.30 GMT on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Kate Monaghan has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and endometriosis, whilst her wife Holly is the recipient of a kidney transplant and has been shielding since the start of the pandemic.
Last spring Kate documented the personal reality of managing lockdown with the added complexity of being disabled, having a high risk family member and an energetic three-year-old daughter.
This winter lockdown threatens to be even harder and as Kate's lockdown household grows we share the highs, lows and everything in-between!
Produced by Amy Elizabeth.
Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
If you want to message Kate or ask her a question, email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk
The government has finally released its recommendations on how to modernise the Mental Health Act.
The act is used to detain - section - someone if they are considered to be a risk to themselves or others.
Many of the recommendations focus on ensuring patients are seen as individuals who should be involved in discussions about their medication and treatment plans.
Raf was sectioned at 18 and spent five years in a forensic mental health unit receiving treatment for schizoaffective disorder which has similar symptoms to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Learning support assistant Ashley was detained under the Mental Health Act twice, once in January 2018 and then in June 2018.
For this BBC Ouch special, Ashley and Raf share their experiences of being detained under the act.
Presented by Beth Rose.
Produced by Beth Rose and Keiligh Baker.
If you’d like to get in contact with the team, email ouch@bbc.co.uk.
You can hear our latest podcast by saying “Ask the BBC for Ouch” to your smart speaker, plus you can listen and subscribe on the BBC Sounds app.
Learning disabled actress Donna Lavin has played the lead role in the hugely successful BBC Radio Four drama The Pursuits of Darleen Fyles for ten series.
Each 15 minute episode follows her and husband Jamie, both with learning difficulties, as they navigate life together. The last decade has seen Darleen tackle everything from dating through to motherhood and in this series, her daughter Frankie starts school in a pandemic.
Shielding since March, Donna told us how she adapted to recording from home without her usual support worker present. This involved lots of talking to walls and wrestling with technology.
Presented by Emma Tracey
Produced by Amy Elizabeth
Meet Mark and Seaneen, the duo who talk about the awkward stuff so you don’t have to.
Seaneen Molloy lives in Belfast. She only really leaves the house for the weekly shop and antenatal checks at the moment.
Mark lives alone in a WWII prefab with mice, mould and Zoom calls for company.
With years of personal and professional experience of mental health difficulty, this month the friends come together to discuss loss, life and the pandemic with their trademark warmth and humour.
You can hear them monthly on the Ouch podcast stream along with Ouch’s other programmes.
Producer Emma Tracey
Write to Mark and Seaneen at ouch@bbc.co.uk
This year’s Ouch Christmas quiz features some very topical dilemmas and questions based on the biggest disability news and events of 2020.
Actor Mat Fraser, comedian Rosie Jones and Paralympian ‘Hurricane’ Hannah Cockcroft fight it out for no prizes whatsoever as they share their take on the last 12 months.
You’re shielding but your flatmate brings a stranger home from their work Christmas party. Do you get angry, or get even? Why is Mat looking for his special bell? And which contestant isn’t wearing trousers?
Presented by Kate Monaghan and Simon Minty.
Produced by Keiligh Baker and edited by Drew Miller Hyndman.
Say to your smart speaker "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to get the latest show, and subscribe via BBC Sounds.
Picture: Ouch logo
The first week of November saw the clocks go back and the highest levels of loneliness since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to the Office for National Statistics.
It said 4.2million people felt “always and often lonely” during that week, but previous studies have found disabled people are far more likely to feel lonely than non-disabled people.
So, how do you battle feelings of isolation?
BBC Ouch’s Emma Tracey spoke to award-winning bloggers, Elin Williams and Chloe Tear, and disability rights campaigner George Baker to find out their top-tips.
Produced by Keiligh Baker and Drew Miller Hyndman.
Say to your smart speaker "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to get the latest show, and subscribe via BBC Sounds.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast, BBC Action Line has a list of organisations and charities offering advice and support.
The 1800 Seconds on Autism podcast is back by popular demand. Here’s the first episode, which is based on listener emails.
Presenter Jamie's assistant Oli gets some appreciation, Jamie describes his game-changing new truck and we talk about paintball - a sport which allows you to REALLY focus: "Whilst you're out on the field playing, nobody is going to come and ask whether you want a sandwich."
With Jamie Knight and Robyn Steward - with support plushies Lion and Henry the Bat always present.
Featuring producer Emma Tracey and other regulars.
Say to your smart speaker "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to get the latest show, and subscribe via BBC Sounds.
On the 25th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act, BBC News Correspondent Nikki Fox asks three generations of disabled people about the impact it has had on their lives.
Holly Scott-Gardner is a visually impaired student and campaigner who was a baby when the DDA came in. She has used disability rights law, now embodied in the Equality Act in most of the UK, and calls the process complicated.
Mik Scarlet was a TV presenter in his mid-20s at the time and Phil Friend was 50 years old and working with businesses to improve accessibility. They were both campaigners for equality before there was any.
They remember fighting to get the law passed, discuss the affect Coronavirus has had on disability rights and look forward to what the future might hold for disabled people.
Presented by Nikki Fox. Produced by Emma Tracey and Keiligh Baker.
Say to your smart speaker "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to get the latest show, and subscribe via BBC Sounds.
It's 1968 and Sue is in the toilet at a pop festival. Abortion, which has just been legalised, provides a moment of liberation. But for wheelchair user Sue, it also throws up difficult questions about her body and her beliefs. A whirlwind romance has left her pregnant. What should she do now?
This story is part of CripTales, a series of fictional monologues, based on factual research and the lived experience of disabled people spanning British history since 1970.
Funny, inventive, dramatic and sexy, each one places disabled voices centre stage.
Originally recorded for television, BBC Ouch is sharing three of the monologues to mark 25 years since the Disability Discrimination Act was passed.
Subscribe to this podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
In this monologue starring Liz Carr, Meg thinks her neighbour is a benefits cheat. She is compiling details about him in order to shop him for fraud. But, unexpectedly, he forges a friendship with her and encourages her to claim more benefits for herself.
The Real Deal is part of CripTales, a series of fictional monologues based on factual research and the lived experience of disabled people spanning British history since 1970. Funny, inventive, dramatic and sexy, each one places disabled voices centre stage.
Originally recorded for television, BBC Ouch is sharing three of the monologues to mark 25 years since the Disability Discrimination Act was passed.
Subscribe to this podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
In this monologue from the series CripTales, disabled actor Mat Fraser sits in the waiting room before an audition, dreading how it will turn out. He relives some of his best and worst moments in auditions in the past, taking us back to his childhood, where he unlocks the reasons for his fears, before finding the way to triumph. Or does he?
CripTales is a series of fictional monologues, based on factual research and the lived experience of disabled people spanning British history since 1970. Funny, inventive, dramatic and sexy, each one places disabled voices centre stage.
Originally recorded for television, BBC Ouch is sharing three of the monologues to mark 25 years since the Disability Discrimination Act was passed.
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In 2004 BBC journalist and author Frank Gardner was shot six times by Islamist extremists while on a reporting job in Saudi Arabia.
Against all the odds, he survived. His cameraman, Simon Cumbers, was killed.
Nearly two decades on Frank revisits this part of his life to explore what it's like to suddenly become disabled, the physical pain he still feels in his legs 16 years on and how he manages the psychological impact of the attack.
He also chats about the years he lived in Cairo and Bahrain, his latest spy novel and his new BBC documentary, Being Frank.
Presented by Beth Rose
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A crash in Morgan Fox's final season as a cyclist left him with fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. Then, an overdose of antibiotics given during his treatment led to almost total hearing loss.
Fox says his engineering background helped him cope with deafness, then with learning to hear with a cochlear implant.
Now he runs Ireland's first professional cycling programme where reasonable adjustments are in place.
Presented by Harry Low.
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From online learning to entire halls of residences being placed in lockdown, students across the country have found themselves at university in extremely testing circumstances.
Those with a disability could potentially find it extra tough.
BBC Ouch’s Keiligh Baker speaks to students from the University of Aberdeen, where more than 100 people tested positive for Covid-19 at the start of October.
Bea is a third year linguistics student who worries disabled students are being treated as an afterthought by universities. She became convener of the Disabled Students Forum to help change that. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Esme is a fresher and lives opposite the halls of residence where everyone is in quarantine …
Produced by Kirstie Brewer.
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Starting University can be incredibly exciting but also daunting – especially given the current Covid-19 restrictions.
And what if you have a disability to manage too? Are you worried it might hold you back from enjoying the full experience? – Pippa and Matt don’t think it will!
Taking soon-to-be fresher Tom* under their wings, Pippa Stacey - author of University and Chronic Illness: A Survival Guide - and recent Durham graduate Matthew Prudham share their experiences and top tips.
Pippa became a pro at pacing herself to manage her M.E while studying and enjoying the student life at York and Matt, who has epilepsy, has some sound advice on tactfully asking housemates to keep the noise down (and keeping anxious parents off your back!).
From Taylor Swift to Bradley Walsh we explore what really happens when you move away from home, and how, even with lockdown, you can still have loads of fun!
Produced by Amy Elizabeth.
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As working from home becomes the new normal, is it really all its cracked up to be? Or could it actually be making the situation worse for disabled staff?
Simon Minty chats with Nana Marfo who lives with a permanent tracheostomy tube and has been working from home since March. He misses catching up with colleagues, but on the plus side; no commute means a lie-in!
Lilu Wheeler has found working from home to be a mixed blessing – staying at home accommodates her auditory processing difficulties and ulcerative colitis – but she can feel out of the loop and misses those watercooler conversations.
The government has said it will give financial support to disabled staff who want to work from home in the long term, by extending Access to Work.
That's great for those who enjoy it, but could it also prompt some employers to be less accommodating and encourage their disabled staff to stay away from the office permanently?
Produced by Kirstie Brewer.
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Kate Monaghan has been isolating with her wife Holly and daughter Scout since March.
Kate has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and endometriosis and Holly is the recipient of a kidney transplant and falls within the 'high risk' category. They shielded during lockdown and kept an audio diary for BBC Ouch.
In this highlights episode, we hear why they suddenly disappeared from your podcast feeds, (Spoiler: It's good news!) and recall some of the best bits.
And remember back in April when the supermarket shelves were empty and everyone was stockpiling toilet roll? Or the fear and confusion of that dreaded government text advising strict shielding for 12 weeks?
Kate and Holly have been refreshingly honest throughout and many have found this podcast both comforting and laugh out loud funny.
Produced and Presented by Amy Elizabeth.
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Some people recovering from Covid-19 are experiencing chronic fatigue symptoms and struggling to manage their limited energy. Jade Gray-Christie tells her story and gets tips from two women who have lived with chronic conditions for years.
Jade worked two jobs and attended the gym several times a week, yet after contracting coronavirus in March her life changed. The 32-year-old now sleeps up to 16 hours a day and is exhausted after doing one household task.
Presenter Natasha Lipman, who has managed a variety of chronic illness symptoms throughout her adult life, introduces Jade to Jo Southall, an occupational therapist who has Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.
From pacing yourself at work to hosting friends in your pyjamas, Jo and Natasha share the strategies which help them manage long-term pain, fatigue and poor mobility.
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Nathalie McGloin is the world's only female tetraplegic racing driver.
But as a teenager she had no interest in cars or racing and had plans to become a lawyer.
Then, two weeks into her A levels, a car crash changed everything. She broke her neck and lost the full use of her arms and legs.
Nathalie spent 11 months in hospital, which she describes as similar to 2020's lockdown.
Although it was far from easy, she says the time enabled her to figure out her passions and what she really wanted to do which eventually led her to a professional racing career.
If you, or someone you know, has received exam results or is about to make big life decisions, this is the perfect podcast to listen to with plenty of tips on managing a future when plans are turned upside down.
Presented by Beth Rose.
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Keiligh Baker was diagnosed with chronic leukaemia three years ago and became single just before the pandemic hit - now she's decided to give internet dating a go, but how does that work when cancer's involved?
Emily Frost and Kirsty Hopgood join her from their childhood bedrooms to discuss the anxieties around treatment and how that has changed their appearance, the surprising messages they’ve received and whether to upload pictures to dating apps with or without hair.
Neil MacVictor was diagnosed with a brain tumour at 25 and, after experiencing low confidence as a result, started taking dating classes with Shine Cancer Support. He found them so useful he now teaches the workshops himself.
Produced by Amy Elizabeth.
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Married couple Kiruna Stamell and Gareth Berliner haven’t been further than the local chemist since early March. That won’t change, they say, unless masks become mandatory in all public places or Gareth’s hospital deems it safe for him to attend appointments.
Gareth’s nutrition has been delivered via a line in his chest for 20 years due to short gut syndrome. It keeps him alive but infections have led to numerous bouts of sepsis. Covid-19 would be more dangerous for him than most, so wife Kiruna also stays home to avoid coronavirus.
Making Pirate and Parrot TV, a YouTube series for kids, has kept the comedian with Crohn’s and the actor with dwarfism busy during 18 weeks at home.
Presented by Simon Minty. Produced by Emma Tracey
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Only last year, 28-year-old Ben Robinson's alcohol dependency was so severe he was days away from death.
Following a stint in rehab and months of hard work rebuilding his life, he felt his recovery had gone backwards when the world went into lockdown.
With limited access to his support network and temptation growing by the day, Ben describes the mental and physical challenges he’s faced over the past three months and why he created his blog, Beyond the Bottle.
Produced and presented by Amy Elizabeth.
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Namel and Rick, aka American rap-duo 4 Wheel City, were shot and paralysed as teenagers 20 years ago. Since then, their Hip Hop tracks about gun violence and disability discrimination have taken them all over the world, from the White House to the 2012 London Paralympics.
Now stuck at home due to coronavirus, the New Yorkers have turned their unique brand of protest to the Black Lives Matter movement, focusing on how it affects disabled people.
4 Wheel City spoke to Emma Tracey, on a slightly dodgy internet connection, about learning to rap again after a high level injury, pressure sores and how Stevie Wonder played a part in their success.
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Ten weeks into isolation and Kate's painful impairment, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, is exhausting her.
A virtual food lesson from her Mum on how to make toad-in-the-hole doesn't quite go to plan and three-year-old Scout has found a fascination with cleaning the house - now that the vacuum cleaner is a robot.
Produced by Amy Elizabeth - email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk to get a message to Kate and Holly.
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Ouch favourites Mark Brown and Seaneen Molloy have dealt with mental health difficulties for a long time, but when the coronavirus pandemic hit, things changed.
Seaneen felt liberated. After years of panic attacks she suddenly felt calm now a crisis had arrived and the rest of the world could finally see how scary the place could be.
Mark felt unwell at the beginning and has had dilemmas to deal with. Most recently he met a stranger in the park who confided her mother had recently died and no one had been in touch. How do you offer comfort in a world of social distancing?
There’s also a tonne of fun stuff in this episode too from escaped bras to Zoom personalities and talk of a zombie apocalypse.
Produced by Emma Tracey
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In a new mini-series, Meet The ‘Vulnerables’, Octavia Woodward sets out to find the real people dubbed “vulnerable”during the coronavirus pandemic, and turn the V-word on its head.
First up is Baroness Jane Campbell - who ranks as “the most influential disabled person in Britain” according to the Shaw Trust. She is considered a legendary figure within the disabled community for her ongoing fight for disabled rights.
Both Jane and Octavia have Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a serious genetic condition that weakens muscles and can cause difficulty with breathing.
Jane, who sits in the House of Lords, talks about her pushy parents, her brushes with the law during political protests, multiple marriages and how she struggled to like disabled people until she graduated from university.
Presented by Octavia Woodward. Produced by Sam Judah.
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Kate's Elhers-Danlos syndrome is causing her great pain this week, to the point she can't sleep or dress herself.
Seven weeks in and she's finding her joints and mental health are suffering from the lack of movement due to isolating.
Kate's wife Holly is on immunosuppressants and shielding for 12 weeks, but, together as a family, they make the decision to finally go for a social distanced walk. Was it the right choice?
Produced by Amy Elizabeth - email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk to get a message to Kate and Holly.
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Five weeks into isolation, Kate and Holly embark on something more daunting than tracking down a supermarket delivery slot - their first amateur home haircut.
Kate's discomfort from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome intensifies due to her endometriosis, but any hope of alone time is impossible when isolating with a three-year-old.
Holly is on immunosuppressants and admits she hasn't packed a hospital bag, as recommended by the NHS, for fear of 'tempting fate'. Can Kate persuade her otherwise?
Produced by Amy Elizabeth.
Email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk to get a message to Kate and Holly. Subscribe to this podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
Coronavirus is making itself known globally, so Cabin Fever thought it too would hot-foot it around the world to see how disabled people are managing.
Lee Kumatat left the UK on 2 January for a brand new life in San Francisco, USA. Three months later we find her trying to live in lockdown in an unfamiliar city with a guide dog....and Pip, the cat she adopted a week ago.
Holly Lane in Perth, Australia is doing her best not to touch anything but says that's surprisingly hard when she's "stumbling" about all day on the sticks she uses. Being a person with cerebral palsy, she has to hold onto things around her to keep her balance.
She's also cashing in on newly-discovered energy stores after cutting out her three hour commute by working from home.
Presented by Emma Tracey. Produced by Beth Rose.
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Week four in isolation is proving frustrating for Kate and her family - Kate has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome whilst wife Holly is on immunosuppressants, and so is classed as high risk.
Kate is disappointed with a lack of empathy towards disabled people during the COVID-19 crisis.
Mummy guilts are setting in with worries that three-year-old daughter Scout may be picking up on household anxiety, whilst Holly is frustrated with Kate and her untidy Lego obsession.
The community finds innovative ways to stay connected, but is anyone else going a little bit mad trying to sign in to all these online play dates and group activities?
Email producer amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk to get a message to Kate and Holly.
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As a recipient of a kidney transplant, Kate's wife Holly falls within the high risk category, so together they are spending their third week in strict isolation. Kate, who has mobility difficulties, admits to feeling guilty she can't do more to help her community or to entertain their daughter Scout.
This week's highlight is The Food Delivery which creates both euphoria and a bit of a household debate. Is anyone else disinfecting every single item before allowing them into the kitchen?
Plus Kate and Holly introduce a new podcast feature they call Isolation Issues - a game which will unite (or divide) households across Britain.
Produced by Amy Elizabeth
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At the start of this year, 2020, barely three months ago, we all said it was going to be the year we'd all nail it. New job, getting married, holiday-of-a-lifetime, kicking any low confidence in the face, the works. Then coronavirus came along.
So, now all your plans have been shelved, how do you cope with the uncertainty when you’re also just starting a new career?
Blind YouTuber and freelance journalist Lucy Edwards was all set to present for Radio 1 and get married this summer, then both got cancelled, along with a calendar full of paid jobs.
And while Ellis's first shift in his new job for the World Service was taken over by a small virus in a Chinese city called Wuhan, he never expected to be moving back to The Wirral and taking up hand-cycling when that virus went global ... and he also didn't imagine he’d have to school his 81-year-old grandma in the use of FaceTime.
Presented by Beth Rose.
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Kate and Holly digest the latest instructions on how to keep safe against coronavirus - for them it means staying in isolation for longer than 12 weeks.
Awkward conversations happen at bath-time about how much they should tell their three-year-old daughter Scout when one of her mums is put in the High Risk category.
And, determined to bring people together from a distance, their neighbours find a way to lift everyone's spirits while Kate reveals how to make stale doughnuts fresh again so you can comfort eat with food you might have thrown away - BBC public service at its best, you're welcome.
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In the second episode of Cabin Fever. As 1.5m people wait to receive letters classing them as High Risk in the fight against coronavirus we find out if Octavia made it safely to Somerset after her care package collapsed in London when it became impossible for her PAs to travel through the city.
Bryony Hopkins is in a great place with her Crohn’s disease and raring to go, but the new drugs she’s on which make her feel better, put her squarely in the High Risk category and she must shield for 12 weeks.
And screenwriter and mental health first aider John Servante says he and some friends diagnosed with Chronic Anxiety pre-pandemic are feeling distinctly average, as more and more people open up about the impact Covid-19 and isolation are having on their mental health.
Presented by Beth Rose, from her kitchen table. Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say to your smart speaker "Ask the BBC for Ouch"
Actor George Robinson reveals what it's like to play Isaac, the first disabled character in Netflix's Sex Education.
George became tetraplegic just a few years ago when he broke his neck in a school rugby tackle gone-wrong.
The question is, did he watch the show - full of teenage sex, angst and mishaps - with his parents?
Professional magician Fergus Flanagan first got into tricks when he was 10-year-old - about the same time he realised he must be different to everyone else.
He'd started to experience intrusive thoughts relating to hitting or kicking disabled people - something he never acted on.
But it would be another 10 years before he told anyone about it and it was given a name - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - something he's now created a magic show around.
Presented by Kate Monaghan and Simon Minty. A full transcript will be available here soon.
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Sky Sports presenter Dave Clark says he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the most "horrible" way. The journalist, now synonymous with darts, says his doctor had a "God-like complex" and first asked how big his mortgage was and whether he had children before delivering the diagnosis. But it was not Clark's first experience of Parkinson's. His father was also diagnosed with the neurological condition at the same age, 44, but chose not to tell anyone about it for years. He later took his own life. The broadcaster, who's now 53 and twice met Muhammad Ali tells BBC Ouch's Harry Low why he's doing everything differently to his father, when it comes to the condition, and why he's planning to climb to the base camp of Mount Everest in November. Read the full transcript. Listen to Ouch regularly on BBC Sounds or tell your smart speaker: "Ask the BBC for Ouch".
Sinead Burke is all about fashion and equality and in September appeared on the front cover of British Vogue.
At three and a half feet tall, she is a fair few notches below average height and describes herself as a "little person".
Find out what happens when you are too short to be able to reach up and lock the toilet door behind you? Or what if the most fashionable choice of clothes you have are in the children's department and have "Daddy's Little Princess" written on them?
In this month's Ouch podcast from the BBC, Sinead explains how she has used people's interest in fashion to shine a light on inclusive design in public spaces and equality generally and how it has led to other opportunities and the launch of her own podcast.
Inspiration is a hideously over-used word when talking about disabled people but I think we can safely say this is a genuinely uplifting listen which gives plenty of great ideas, different ways of looking at life and, if you are disabled, it may well stoke your self esteem a little.
One of the hosts of our programme, Simon Minty, is also a little person which lets us dive deep into areas most interviewers wouldnt' think to ask which also brings plenty of wicked humour.
With Kate Monaghan and Simon Minty
Ouch is on BBC Sounds and available on your smart speaker by yelling "ask the BBC for Ouch".
Migraines are so much more than a headache according to Rachel Creeger.
In a fascinating discussion with the comedian, we hear how her various identities impact on her – that’s being disabled, Jewish and a woman. But also, that the disabling form of migraine she has is also linked to her senses, speech and her ability to play musical instruments among other things.
Our reporter Emma Tracey caught up with Creeger back in the summer after her run at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Photo credit: Ruth Bloch
Email: ouch@bbc.co.uk or find us on Twitter @bbcouch
Rachel’s condition feels like one of those things which people probably sit at home frantically Googling about so here are some keywords from the podcast audio to help search engines find out more about this unusual collection of symptoms.
atypical hemiplegic migraine with prolonged aura, plucking hair, shot in head, stabbing pain, synesthesia, migraine, headache, words, trigger, sounds, smells, Myelin sheaths, genetic disorder, neurological, inherited migraine, MS, onomatopoeia.
Souleyman Bah was the first disabled contestant on BBC One's The Apprentice.
But just three weeks into the season he was fired by Lord Sugar and told he was “brave” for being there - how did he feel when he was served up with that cliche from the famous businessman? And what was it like behind the scenes?(*)
The Vacuum Cleaner, aka James Leadbitter, has run his mental health project Madlove for five years. It’s all about giving people a say in what their care should look and feel like. He tells Ouch about his new project where he has taken over a former branch of Argos in St Helens, Merseyside, and turned it into a mental health sanctuary, complete with its own blend of tea.
How hard is it to be green when you’re disabled and have to use more taxis and avoid the easy to use products with throwaway packaging, for instance. Sam Little gives us some tips and tricks on being environmentally friendly.
And we take a wry look at the newly published power list of disabled people from Shaw Trust.
Presented by Kate Monaghan and Simon Minty.
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(*) On the podcast, Souleyman said his top moments hadn't made the final edit on The Apprentice. It was also suggested he needed more support. In a statement from The Apprentice, a spokesman says: “The team worked hard to ensure that appropriate measures were taken throughout the production process and one-to-one support was given to Souleyman during tasks to enable him to participate in the process fairly alongside the other candidates. Production continually worked with Souleyman to decide upon and ensure the appropriate adjustments were made at every stage, both in the house and whilst on task.”
Bella Parkhouse is a typical teenager. She spends her time juggling college, a part-time job and seeing friends.
But she's also among the 10% of people who live with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) under the age of 18.
Bella tells us how she navigates treatments and medication as well as managing her social life and chronic fatigue. She's also had to confront a few bullies along the way but remains determined not to let MS dictate her life... especially when, she admits, she experiences FOMO - a Fear Of Missing Out.
Bella's mum, Sarah, also gives a few top tips for parents on how to support your child with a chronic illness.
Presented by Niamh Hughes and Emma Tracey. A full transcript will appear here soon.
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When Damon's guide dog DeeBee visits the vet for a check-up, there are some unforeseen consequences.
With Damon Rose, Niamh Hughes and Beth Rose.
Comedian Joe Wells talks about the one time in his life that making eye contact with another human being wasn't uncomfortable. Recently diagnosed as autistic, he also explains why he has to block out men's voices by playing loud music in his headphones.
Also on the podcast: Sarah Collins tells the story of the OCD moment where she strongly believes she's swallowed an entire packet of paracetamol. And Tom Leeds on how an accident obliterated all of his childhood memories until hearing an '80s song brought some of them back.
To hear our podcast regularly, tell your smart speaker: "Ask the BBC for Ouch" or find it on your BBC Sounds app.
Produced by Ed Morrish and the Ouch team.
When we put three disabled comedians together round a picnic table we hadn’t banked on hearing one of the best disability love stories we’ve ever heard.
We're a hard-bitten cynical bunch at Ouch sometimes but this was a beautiful moment from Spring Day about her relationship with BBC Three's one and only Jerk, Tim Renkow.
The story packs even more of a punch when you find out about her history and how much fun they’ve been having as a couple ever since.
Features the "catholic cure for stammering", body positivity and more in the podcast that does disability differently - almost like it's normal.
With Jon Long and Aidan Greene.
Presented by Kate Monaghan and Simon Minty, Produced by Emma Tracey and recorded at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019.
Life can be a bit different if you're disabled or have a mental health difficulty, but sometimes it is just be plain hilarious. Andy Duffy, Sajeela Kershi and Janine Hammond take to the stage at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to tell true stories on the theme of Lost and Found. From Andy's missing wheelchair battery which almost sparked the evacuation of a London museum, to Sajeela's recent hearing loss which meant she mistook a rude, insulting man, for someone paying her a compliment. Then there's Janine Hammond who lost her nipples, twice. First to cancer, then to showbiz. This is the first episode of BBC Ouch: Storytelling Live 2019, hosted by comedian Chris McCausland. Subscribe to Ouch on BBC Sounds. Like us, rate us and leave a nice review - this helps others find our programmes. Email ouch@bbc.co.uk Tweet @bbcouch or find us on Facebook.
Everyone in the theatre company Elektric Apple has a learning disability.
Using important themes from life, like mental health, sexuality and loneliness, they tell stories in their own words.
We sat down with actors Carl and John and their director Andrew Sinclair to talk about what they love most about performing and the message they want to spread with their productions.
Presented by Niamh Hughes
Recorded at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - @bbcouch
If you are disabled and believe that a product to solve your problem doesn’t exist yet, listen up. A network of volunteer engineers are on-hand to help.
When Sarah Stones realised leaning heavily on her left arm was taking its toll but couldn’t find a device to help, she reached out to Remap, a charity that makes bespoke solutions for disabled people. Engineer Akshaya Ahuja made her an armband with a pressure-sensitive alarm that would make her straighten up.
About to go to market is an accessible toy kitchen which is suitable both for kids who use wheelchairs, and those who stand. Designer Bex French works for Demand, a similar charity to Remap which creates cool stuff for disabled people.
We put Bex and Akshaya on the spot with challenges from listeners, the presenters, and blind geek extraordinaire Robin Christopherson. Will Kate get a new skin to stop her joints from moving out of place? Why was Simon admiring Sarah’s seat? And what’s all the hype about buckwheat pillows?
Presented by Kate Monaghan and Simon Minty. Produced by Emma Tracey.
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The Shalva Band were favourites to represent host country Israel at Eurovision but pulled out when the dress rehearsal was scheduled for Friday - the Jewish holy day of rest.
The group of eight musicians, who all have disabilities, had been voted through on a national TV programme.
Their popularity rose at the same time research revealed 90% of parents in Israel didn't want their offspring to attend after-school clubs with disabled children.
The band released a campaign song called Open The Door in response to the research. It went viral and they say it's changing attitudes to disability. Vocalists Anael and Dina told BBC Ouch they are now stopped for selfies wherever they go.
Despite opting out of Eurovision, The Shalva Band will perform A Million Dreams, from The Greatest Showman, during the 2nd Eurovision semi-final on Thursday.
With apologies for the occasional sound difficulty on the line from Jerusalem.
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Natalie Pearson is a primary school teacher and one of a few in the world to also have Tourette's syndrome.
Tourettes causes her to swear, sometimes in class, and also jerk her body - but she says her students and colleagues have embraced it
The science teacher was diagnosed with late-onset Tourette's syndrome at the age of 21 and believes a traumatic rape at university was the trigger.
Natalie's story was originally heard on the BBC's Multi Story podcast.
Presented by Becca Bryers.
Subscribe now to BBC Ouch in BBC Sounds or ask for us on your smart speaker by saying "play Ouch disability talk from the BBC".
From being a working class disabled person to waiting for that brown envelope to arrive for your benefits reassessment. This show, recorded in front of a live audience, moves from one emotion to another.
Comedian Jackie Hagan describes how she went from feeling she had to prove she could still do everything and more, after having one leg amputated, to realising she didn't actually have to become a hero.
Performer Conor A has fibromyalgia, an impairment usually associated with women. He reveals how he was treated by doctors and how he learned to build access needs into his own show such as a prompter for when he goes all 'fibro fog'.
Presented by Simon Minty and Kate Monaghan at the I'm Here, Where Are You? festival in Cambridge. A transcript will be available soon.
Subscribe now to BBC Ouch in BBC Sounds or ask for us on your smart speaker by saying "play Ouch disability talk from the BBC".