My chat on the Fully Sick podcast

Late last year I met a wonderful woman called Jenny Joy, and she interviewed me for her Fully Sick podcast. The episode aired last month - apologies for not posting about it earlier.

Jenny is such a great conversationalist. I really opened up in our chat - to the point that this needs a content warning about suicidal thoughts. If you need to talk to someone, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or the crisis line in your country.

You can listen to it here. There are lots of laughs, too - I promise. Thanks for having me, Jenny!

Jenny has chatted to some amazing people - all living with chronic illnesses and/or disabilities. Her podcast is funny, interesting, deep and useful. Give all of the episodes a listen. How great to see people with disabilities making their own media!

 

Six podcasts about disabilities, chronic illnesses and mental health that I love.

The hands-down best thing about the Internet is how it's allowed so many of us (especially from marginalised communities) to have a voice. We can all be media makers and have an audience. And the first-person perspective is so valuable - and increasingly more prevalent. Five years ago, it was other people telling out stories. And now we are doing it for ourselves.

These podcasts are all hosted by writers who have disabilities, chronic illnesses and mental illnesses. I especially like these podcasts because they discuss broader issues around disability, chronic illness and mental health - issues sometimes difficult to acknowledge individually when we are wrapped up in the day to day of coping, and sometimes hard to discuss with others affected by our conditions.

Disclaimer: I'm soon to be featured on three of these podcasts. I'll let you know when my episodes are up.

Please also note that none of these podcasts apart from The Accessible Stall and In Sickness + In Health have transcripts.

Fully Sick - hosted by Jenny O'Keefe

 

Jenny is an Australian writer, radio presenter and marriage celebrant. In the middle of last year Jenny got in touch with me, recommending a hairdresser for my wedding (who I contacted and contracted - and she made my hair fabulous!). Later in the year, Jenny wrote to me again to tell me about her planned podcast and invited me to be interviewed. Of course, I said!

Jenny has fibromyalgia and spent all of episode one talking about her experiences with her wife Tracey. She is upbeat and is incredibly giving with her story.

Jenny interviews a different person with a chronic illness or disability in each episode. The guests have shared so much about themselves and I've learnt (and empathised) a lot.

She's three episodes in, and I'm enjoying it very much. She's got a great rapport with guests, and she's funny! I really like the medical and psychological perspectives from two professionals, too.

Listen here. Follow on Facebook.

The Anxiety Shut-In Hour - hosted by Anna Spargo Ryan and Erin Van Crimpen

Anna and Erin talk about anxiety, depression and suicide on the Anxiety Shut-In Hour. I've listened to a few episodes, and I've learnt a lot about mental health.

The women are articulate - speaking about themselves, current issues and offer useful advice for people living with mental illness.

The intro theme is very kooky.

Listen here. (And on other platforms listed on the podcast website.) Follow on Facebook.

Also, Anna has written a beautiful debut novel which is on one of my favourite books ever. Every sentence is breathtaking. Seriously read it.

Order Anna’s book: Readings | Booktopia | Amazon (Kindle

Just a Spoonful - hosted by Kaitlyn Plyley

I am in a wonderfully supportive writers group on Facebook and one day I saw a post by Kaitlyn Plyley, an Australian writer and performer. She wrote of a massive achievement for her podcast - interviewing Jill Pantozzi, a US journalist. I asked Kaitlyn where I can find her podcast, and she posted the link to her website. I immediately downloaded all the episodes and have been listening to one episode a week.

And I love it! I love the long form conversations she has with her guests. Like with Fully Sick, each guest has given so much of themselves. Much of the discussions are wider than chronic illness - Kaitlyn and her guests chat about all sorts of things including career, pop culture, fashion and life in general. I loved the chat with Amy Dallas - a young woman who is so incredibly accomplished and driven.

The theme song is pretty, and I often find myself humming to it, even when I'm not listening to the podcast.

When Kaitlyn interviewed me for the podcast, we giggled so much. Gosh it was fun! She looks a bit like Justin Bieber, and we both love Darren Hayes. She's just moved to my city and I cannot wait to meet her in person. I told her I have a crush on her accent.

Listen here. Follow on Facebook.

BBC Ouch

Stella Young first told me about BBC Ouch when she was launching ABC Ramp Up. It's a UK radio program hosted by UK journalists with disabilities.

The hosts cover issues around accessibility, disability politics, British politics, media, arts, identity plus more, and interview guests with disabilities.

I love that this puts disability in the mainstream.

And there's a BBC Ouch blog, too.

Listen here. Download from the BBC website. Follow on Facebook.

The Accessible Stall Podcast - hosted by Emily Ladau and Kyle Khachadurian

 

Emily Ladau is one of my favourite writers and disability activists, and so I was excited to see she has recently released a podcast with her co-host Kyle. Fangirling!

The hosts don't always agree on everything, and this is the beauty of listening to them. The episode about identity is a great example of this. Emily sees disability as part of her identity "just as much as being Jewish and being female - a large aspect of what makes me who I am", she said. But Kyle doesn't feel the same. He acknowledges his disability, but it "means as much to me as being a male or brown-eyed - it doesn't really have any intrinsic value", he said. "It doesn't play into the person I am, though I give it credit for playing into the person I became. It's just there."

They've also made me think about things differently - since listening to the episode about the pre-cut fruit, it's made me consider what's worth speaking up about. It can be easy to het outraged about a seemingly little issue, especially when it's a collective effort, but that means it can also detract our energy from advocating for/against bigger issues.

Listen here. Follow on Facebook. All podcast transcripts are here.

In Sickness + In Health - hosted by Cara Rael

I think I came across In Sickness + In Health when the podcast Twitter account retweeted a tweet of mine. I clicked through to their account and saw it was a podcast! Hurrah! I downloaded most of the episodes and have listened to each when I've had a long task to do.

Similar to Just a Spoonful and Fully Sick, IS+IH features a chats with different guests with varied conditions. The conversations are in depth feature perspectives from different countries.

Even though the podcast has only been broadcasting since October 2015, there is a big back catalogue of episodes. There are often bonus episodes - I love this because often at the end of a podcast, I want to hear more from the guests.

The disclaimer at the start of each episode is wonderful - do not recommend any treatment to the guests, no matter how well meaning you are!

I had a long chat with Cara and it was really fun! She asked me a lot about the Australian healthcare experience, and she was interested to learn how much it differs from America.

Listen here. Follow on Facebook. Transcripts from a few episodes are here.

I am so excited about these podcasts. They really are great listens that feature interesting people, and I've come to make some genuine friends with some of the hosts. Do give them a listen.

How to listen to podcasts:

Some podcasts can be downloaded (saved and/or streamed) from program websites. Many are linked to radio programs and can be streamed through their websites.

You can also download podcasts through apps on your computer, tablet or phone. I listen to mine on my iPad and iPhone. You can download through iTunes (this is how I listen to them) or other apps such as Stitcher. A list of 10 great podcasting apps for many operating systems can be found at Tom's Guide.

I listen to podcasts on iTunes, and have linked to the iTunes podcast stream for each podcast here. But I've also included the websites for all of the podcasts in this blog, so click on the links for more listening options.

What chronic illness, disability and mental health podcasts do you recommend?

Hear me on Humans of Twitter podcast!

You know I love podcasts. One of my favourite new podcasts is Humans of Twitter, hosted by Steve Molk. Steve has interviewed some amazing Tweeters (some friends of mine) including Kerri Sackville, Rick Morton, Osher Gunsberg, Dee Madigan, Mark Scott and Kate Iselin. Steve is an excellent interviewer - he can really delve into deep conversations.

So I was very excited when Steve asked me to talk to him. It was a fun chat - some parts were very serious, and other parts I talked about bikini waxing.

Listen to the podcast here.

Thanks for having me Steve!

 

Two podcasts I've chatted on recently

You know how I love podcasts. I wrote about them here and here. I only just noticed one of my small screen (and now podcast) queens tweeted my link out. I love Leigh.

 

I listen to podcasts every day. I am addicted. I put them on when I'm working on spreadsheets or drifting off for a nap. I listen when I'm skipping. And they teach me so much.

I also love speaking on podcasts - and in the last month or so, I've had the opportunity to speak on two! I've got another interview lined up soon too.

The first is an interview with Gurds Hundal - a London based health journalist who has a podcast called Get Inspired With Gurds. I talk to her about life with Ichthyosis, media portrayal of disabilities and what it was like to grow up looking different. It does get a bit heavy early on, when I discuss not wanting to live when I was young, but mostly it's light hearted. If you need to talk to someone contact LifeLine - 131114 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (or the equivalent in your country).

Listen to that here.

The next is an interview with Pip Lincolne for Kidspot Voices of 2015. It was so much fun - we chatted about writing, going viral, and the importance of using your blog for social good. There was a lot of laughing, of course. Pip is definitely one of my online besties.

Listen to Pip and I natter here.

Yay for podcasts! It's a public holiday in Melbourne today and I've done some washing, had a nap and watched iView - I'm now going to listen to a.... You guessed it.

Are there any more podcasts you can recommend?

 

 

Six awesome podcasts hosted by women

I am totally addicted to podcasts. Maybe it's my need to be switched on and want to soak up views of so many others all the time? It's a really effective use of my time - a way to learn without reading. And since my last podcast post, I've found six more podcasts that I love and recommend - these are all hosted by women.

Stripped  

Stripped- hosted by Sarah Meehan-Sirk - is a summer series on CBC Radio in Canada. I’ve come to know about the show because Sarah asked me to be on it! The series explores the link between our bodies and the world. The show I featured in is about skin, and I spoke about skin hunger and Ichthyosis. Hear my episode here.

The Mystery Show

The Mystery Show is another Gimlet production (from the same people who make Reply All). It's hosted by Starlee, who I find so charming. As the title suggests, it's a show solving mysteries. But it's so much more than that - Starlee goes on the most wonderful tangents. I was hooked after hearing The Mystery Show preview on Reply All. It was about Britney Spears. So good.

Chat 10 Looks 3

This is hosted by two of the smartest and funniest women in Australian media, Leigh Sales and Annabelle Crabb. It's very basic - sometimes they're recorded in their car, others in the ABC's piano room. And it's very funny. I most love Leigh Sales' showtunes. The pair have fantastic charisma and listening to their conversations is a treat! They are so lovely! And funny. And I wish I could have a good ol’ chat with them too.

Save the Date Wedding Podcast

Save the Date Wedding Podcast is hosted by comedian Aleisha McCormick. This is such a fun wedding planning show that's given me lots of ideas. It's also really inclusive, promoting marriage equality. Pip Lincolne introduced me to this at the start of the year, and it’s become a valuable part of my wedding planning.

Assumptions 

Assumptions on Radio National features Susan Carland (Waleed Aly's wife) breaking down assumptions about many things - living alone, female pilots and male midwives, to name a few. It's informative, funny and I want more.

The Nitty Gritty Committee with Meshel Laurie. 

I love Meshel's blog because it's much deeper than what we hear from her on commercial radio. So when I saw she has a podcast out, I was very excited. I've listened to a few episodes - Sam Johnson (actor) and Kerry Tucker (former prisoner) have been my favourite. I wish they were longer episodes. Great stuff. 

(For information about how to listen to podcasts and how to make them, visit my previous podcast post.)

Have you got any more podcast recommendations?

Six+ podcasts I love.

I’ve been listening to podcasts for years. Maybe since 2005? I love them. I listen while I am writing, before sleep, and sometimes if I am doing a repetitive task like spreadsheets or transposing minutes. I learn so much, and hear about a lot of interesting people doing interesting things. (Also, I'm sitting in a giant gumnut pod up there!)

What is a podcast?

A podcast is a portable, on demand (POD) show. It might be a recording of a radio show, or a show recorded only as a podcast for download, or a playlist of music (like running podcasts).

How to listen to podcasts

Some podcasts can be downloaded (saved and/or streamed) from program websites. Many are linked to radio programs and can be streamed through their websites.
You can also download podcasts through apps on your computer, tablet or phone. I listen to mine on my iPad and iPhone. You can download through iTunes (this is how I listen to them) or other apps such as Stitcher. A list of 10 great podcasting apps for many operating systems can be found at Tom's Guide.

It seems podcasts are becoming more popular now - SO many friends got into Serial - they perhaps didn’t listen to podcasts before? I might have been the only person who didn’t get into Serial. I drifted off every time I listened.

But here are some I enjoy.

This American Life

This American Life features two or three true stories narrated or discussed. It’s enthralling. My two favourite recent stories were the Batman episode (which is also on Invisiblia - a TAL spinoff) and an episode about trolling.

Batman was about the low expectations people place on those with disabilities, and how if we give the disabled a chance, they can achieve.

From the episode:

"[He] began to wonder if maybe, just maybe...low expectations for what blind people could do was in some way actually limiting the blind people..."

And the trolling episode featured one of my favourite writers Lindy West who talked about how she confronted her most horrible troll. So interesting. Trolls walk amongst us.

TedTalk Radio Hour

The TedTalk Radio Hour features excerpts of TedX Talks, grouped into a theme. It's meaty stories in bite sized chunks.

I recently listened to one episode about secrets, where the founder of PostSecret talked about how receiving the secrets in the mail every day is like Christmas.
The NPR podcasts are fantastic!
And so are the ABC Radio ones!

Life Matters

Life Matters on ABC Radio National features fantastic conversations about current issues, hosted by one of my favourite presenters, Natasha Mitchell. I was so excited to chat with Natasha on Life Matters two years ago.

Wilosophy

Hosted by comedian Wil Anderson, Wilosophy is a podcast featuring conversations with Wil’s friends who are doing great things. As the name suggests, they talk about their philosophies. I love the length of the podcasts because it allows Will and his interviewee to get into a lot of detail. The chat he had with Kurt Fearnely was fantastic. Wil is empathetic, intelligent and curious. I’d LOVE to be interviewed by Wil!

The Osher Gunsberg Podcast

This is another conversation style podcast. I do enjoy this one because his mantra is to talk to people who work at doing things they really love. Again, I’d love to be a guest. I LOVED hearing the Darren Hayes podcast - I remember being immersed in it while I was in the Chicago hostel. (Also, Darren had a great podcast last year and a new one this year - tune into He Said He Said.)

Conversations with Richard Fidler

This one from ABC Radio features conversations with well known and not so well known people. I love Richard’s interviewing style - he asks personal but never uncomfortable questions that put the guests at ease. I was recently engrossed in the conversation with missing person's advocate Loren O'Keeffe, and I also loved appearance activist Robert Hoge's chat. Richard is another person I'd love to talk to.

Notice a pattern here? I love to listen in on conversations. I love hearing about people’s lives. I love a chat.

And there’s plenty more that I love! KCRW Good Food, American Splendid Table, RadioTonic, RN 360, Background Briefing, The Smart Passive Income Podcast, Reply All, So You Wanna Be a Writer?...the list goes on. I am such a podcast nerd!

How to make a podcast

You can make basic podcasts on SoundCloud. I made one last year as a part of the Blog With Pip course. I made a list of things to talk about and just ad-libbed when the record button was on. I shared the link on Facebook. But I much prefer more professional sounding podcasts, and you can do this with microphones and sound recording software. The ABC has a more comprehensive guide to making podcasts if you want to explore further.

Podcasting is really on my list of things to do - I love them! Maybe in 2016.

Do you love a podcast? What do you recommend?

A minute with Mel and Patience from The Minutes. You're welcome.

 (Mel Buttle sent me this picture. A listener made it for her and Patience Hodgson because they really really love KFC Wicked Wings.)

Mel Buttle and Patience Hodgson carry on the type of conversation that makes you want to be their friend. You know the type when you’re sitting next to a pair of besties, and they’re having a great time chatting away, and you just want to join in? But you can’t because they may think you’re a creepy intruder trying to latch on to some new friends. That. Only in this case, you can’t join in with their conversation because they talk on a podcast. 

(source)

Comedian and writer, Mel Buttle and singer Patience Hodgson, or PatiencefromtheGrates, as Mel calls her, do a fortnightly podcast called The Minutes, and have recently created a little sister podcast called You’re Welcome. 

(source)

One of the thrill seeking activities I do late at night is curl up in bed listening to podcasts. Outrageous I know. I have a whole range of favourites – from cooking (KCRW Good Food, Poh’s Kitchen) to the more serious and informative (ABC’s Background Briefing and Life Matters) to audio documentaries (This American Life) to conversations (Conversations with Richard Fidler) and music (NPR’s All Songs Considered). It’s another way of reading books, I guess, and a good way of learning about new things and people and having some company in the house when I am all alone. I discovered The Minutes through an iTunes recommendation late last year. And I’ve been hooked, listening to back to back episodes when I couldn’t sleep through the brief heatwave we had in January. The podcasts actually didn't do much to make me sleep because they were too addictive!


They invite guests to the podcasts - family, band members or other musicians. Here's Mel and Patience with singer Lanie Lane.

They have a knack of making those ‘you had to be there’ moments come alive. I have laughed out loud (or perhaps LOLd, in this online media context) at their stories of touring and families and radio plays. It’s really funny and creative stuff.

Mel and Patience interact with their listeners on Twitter and Tumblr. I talk to them on Twitter and they are funny! Their little sister podcast You’re Welcome has been developed specifically to answer questions sent to them on Twitter. I listened to their most recent You're Welcome and laughed so hard at their stories of who they'd turn gay for that I had to have a second listen.

Mel has been kind enough to answer a few questions for me. Enjoy. And don’t forget to download The Minutes and You’re Welcome. 

How long have you been doing The Minutes?

Mel : The first episode went up on August 25 2011, but we did a sneaky practice episode before then which was just us mucking around, it's never been put up for public listening.

How did you meet?

Mel: The internet! But the first time we met IRL was at ABC Brisbane Radio I 'interviewed' Patience one day when I was filling in for Richard Fidler, instant besties. Patience is a dream to have on air when you're hosting radio, she also impressed me with her outfit and she brought me a slice of cake. I think it was an avocado mung bean chocolate sweet potato cake. I was blown away by her and her cake. I'd also been a long time Grates fan and I knew she was about to release 'Secret Rituals' so I got her in for an interview, mainly just so I could meet her. Yes I am cunning like a rat.

Why did you decide to do a podcast?

Mel: It was Patience's idea, she'd had a podcast before and we've both dabbled in radio, also she's a wag and I'm a card, so it seemed like a fun idea.

What's the best thing about doing a podcast together?

Mel: Eating cake afterwards, talking for hours on end and pretending we're Oprah and Gayle.

If you two went on holidays together where would you go?

Mel: Somewhere we can be sunsmart and eat chicken wings, maybe The Hamptons? I've heard people on TV go there on holidays, it sounds nice. Would I have to swim though? I'm not swimming.

Will you consider entering my Kitchen Rules in 2013, and if so, what would you cook?

Mel: Well it would be unfair of us to enter, as we'd obviously win and no one else would have a chance, but if I had to enter and break hearts, I'd make slow cooked pork belly, with apple slaw and a cherry cola float. See people forget about drinks, I think serving a cool non alcoholic drink with a dish can be a hoot.

Who would be in your supergroup/festival and why?

Mel: I'd like to be in a Sister Act tribute band with Oprah, Patience and Nigella Lawson. I think we'd nail it.

Tell me about a time when...

Mel: When I pashed an ex cast member of Heartbreak High? Really you want to hear that story? Actually no I'll tell it on The Minutes, you'll have to listen.

Where can we hear/see more of your stuff?


Mel: www.melbuttle.com.au is where I put my blogs and update my gigs. The podcast has its own tumblr too it's like the afterparty for the podcast. You can listen to The Minutes here too! And www.thegrates.com is where you can find out about Patience's band.

What's a story worth? - my 100th blog entry

So this is my 100th blog entry! Happy centenary, little blog.

I've shared many things with you in this three months: my cooking, my clothes, miserable days with sore skin, a death in the family.

I've really enjoyed blogging regularly again, and I vow to continue for hundreds more blog entriws. I also vow to keep up the quality of the blog entries - which may not mean blogging every day like I've tried to do.

The ability to practice my writing has been great. I've also loved the thought process and research that has gone into writing my blog entries. Sometimes it feels like I'm researching for news stories.

But the best thing by far is the community I've found through blogging, and the interaction it creates. I've said it many times - I love receiving comments and thank you all for doing so. I can't believe I have people taking the time to read my writing and take interest in my life.

I love reading other blogs and getting an insight into their world. And I love giving readers insight into my world. I haven't told you everything about me, but I've been really honest about things in my life, and I'm really pleased with such a positive reaction from friends and strangers.

A friend I used to go school with commented, 'I find that I am learning about you now, when I should have been doing so 10 years ago...'. Her words moved me. She's right, though I don't resent her, I think of so many that didn't take the time to get to know me. And through this blog, people are getting to know me. I'm a person of solitude - through I have a sunny disposition and enjoy company, I also enjoy being alone and and comfortable with my own company. When I write I can share parts of me that I might not have shared with others that know me. There have been people who have read my blog entries about my skin and commented that they've not realised what it's like for me until they've read my blog. I've received comments from strangers who have told me that by me telling my story allows them to be more confident about telling theirs. This means so much to me - it confirms that I can positively influence people, and that I am helping people in some way.

Which brings me onto stories and what they are worth.

I've enjoyed reading blogs more than magazines. Not that I buy many gossip magazines, per se, but I like fashion magazines. And while I have a pile of magazines to be ready, I've actually found I'd rather be reading someone's blog. Getting to know them, a stranger...what makes them tick, what inspires them, what they'd wear. Rather than getting to know the lives of celebrities. It's far more interesting learning about ordinary people. I thoroughly enjoy the blogs I follow.

One thing I really like to do is snuggle up in bed and listen to podcasts by ABC Radio. Some of the podcasts I listen to The Conversation Hour and Background Briefing and Multiple Choice by Susan Maushart. I also listen to This American Life and KCRW's Good Food. Look them up on iTunes!

I love podcasts. They tell stories. Many have been so interesting. And moving. And have stayed with me. Like the woman who gave up her life to become a strictly disciplined Carmelite nun - she left her family and devoted her life to God and had no contact with her family for 40 years. Like the story of the South African woman who was gang raped. Like the stories about the carers and paramedics and the everyday people making a difference in our community. I love hearing these stories. I love learning about people through them telling their stories. And I think this is why I enjoy writing my blog so much - because I can share my story, be heard, and receive feedback.

The stories of ordinary people - sometimes doing mundane things, often doing amazing things - mean so much more to me than the stories of celebrities. I admit, I used to love celebrity. Maybe not all celebrities, but I have fallen pretty hard for a few celebs in my life. But now, it's boring. Of course, I know what's going on in Lily Allen's life (she's going to start a vintage store and a reality TV show will be made about this, FYI). And I know that Tiger Woods and his wife were seeing kissing. I know about these stories, not because I'm interested, but because stories like these are inescapable because the media feeds them to us. Because celebrities sell them to us.

And why should a celebrity's story be worth more than a story of an ordinary person doing great things in the community? Why should a celebrity be paid $200,000 to tell a story about a love affair and a nude photo? How is this interesting or important? How is this news?

I salute those who share their interesting life stories for the benefit of the wider world. They may receive a small fee for doing so, but that's not the way most of them make a living. And for most, it must be very hard to share their stories because of the trauma they've been through through no fault of their own. Commendable.

For stories about real people that will continue to inspire me, I will continue to read blogs and listen to podcasts. And I vote that the media concentrates on more pressing stories - world issues (poverty, hunger), environment issues, health issues. They may not be packaged in a size 8, suntanned, bikini clad, body, and vacuous mind, but they're a damn sight more interesting and important.