Content warning: This podcast episode discusses female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C), including its physical, emotional, and psychological impacts. Some listeners may find this content distressing. Listener discretion is advised. If you have been affected by the issues discussed, please consider seeking support from a healthcare professional. In this episode, Huda Mohammed, who is an FGM Specialist and Pelvic Health Midwife from the charity Vavengers, discusses the Impact of FGM on...
Aug 9
15 min
Content warning: This podcast episode discusses female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C), including its physical, emotional, and psychological impacts. Some listeners may find this content distressing. Listener discretion is advised. If you have been affected by the issues discussed, please consider seeking support from a healthcare professional. We talk with Sema Gornell, the charity Vavenger's CEO, about one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding FGM/C: that it is a medical necess...
Aug 9
35 min
In this episode of Sunflower Conversations, James Dunn speaks with Yvette O'Dowd, who first showed symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) at 32 years old and has now been living with the condition for over 30 years. An advocate and author of the children's book Granny Has Wobbly Legs, Yvette shares her experience of living with MS, exploring fatigue, brain fog, stigma, and the practical adjustments, including the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, that help make everyday life more accessible. • Earl...
Aug 6
42 min
In this episode of Sunflower Conversations, James Dunn speaks with Vikesh Anand, TEDx speaker and founder of STUTTA (Australian Stuttering Association), about living with a stutter and advocating for greater awareness and acceptance. • What stuttering is, including different types of speech blocks and covert vs overt stuttering • The mental load of masking speech, including anxiety, shame and constant self-monitoring • Finding community at 28 through a stuttering support gro...
Jun 30
50 min
We talk about motor neurone disease (MND), also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), with Pauline from the MND Association and Joff, who shares what diagnosis and day-to-day life really look like. We explore how symptoms show up, why support and research urgency matter, and how small acts of understanding can make public spaces safer and kinder. What MND is and why symptoms vary so much The long process of ruling out other conditions Prevalence Resilience and ada...
Jun 21
40 min
In this episode of Sunflower Conversations, James Dunn speaks with Nicole Trimboli about surviving two cancers, living with a permanent stoma and ostomy bag, and rebuilding confidence when your body and life change fast. • Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a young mum and the mental scars that can linger • Daily life with an ostomy bag, diet planning and body image. • Writing What a Shit Show as a guide, a story and a form of therapy • Travelling with a hidden disability, airp...
Jun 5
41 min
The topic for this episode is mental health and schizophrenia. If you are affected by anything we discuss, please follow up with your healthcare provider. We talk with Alex Phillips from Mind in Camden about schizophrenia and hearing voices, focusing on lived experience rather than frightening labels. We explore how people can recover, how families can offer support, and how everyday compassion reduces stigma. Hearing voices as an umbrella for different sensory experiences Wh...
May 23
25 min
We talk with Jay Reinstein about his early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis, from the first confusing moments at work to the fear, stigma, and family impact that followed. We also dig into what helps day-to-day, how advocacy restores purpose, and why practical support like the Sunflower lanyard can change a journey from panic to confidence. Noticing early cognitive changes in a high-responsibility job and seeking assessment Emotional shock of diagnosis, including anxiety, depression, ...
May 10
34 min
In this episode of Sunflower Conversations, James Dunn speaks with Mel Ogden about profound hearing loss alongside endometriosis, Hashimoto’s disease, and breast cancer, and how it's shaped her identity, work, and self-advocacy. Mel shares her journey from childhood through to adulthood, navigating communication, disclosure, and shifting access needs across different environments. Communication in daily life, including lip reading and the importance of captionsLearning to disclose acces...
May 3
43 min
In this first episode of Season 3, James Dunn returns as our new host, bringing thoughtful and engaging conversations to the forefront. He is joined by Fiona, an organisational design and HR leader with over 18 years’ experience, who shares her experience of living with vitelliform macular dystrophy (VMD), also known as Best disease, and how it has shaped her perspective on identity, accessibility, and inclusion. Growing up with a childhood diagnosis and navigating the evolving impact of prog...
Apr 7
37 min
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