Ciara's Pink Sparkle Podcast!

I recently chatted with my mate Duncan Casburn who is also known online as PDA Dad UK. He is a prominent UK-based YouTuber, SEND advocate, and campaigner focusing on Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), a profile of autism. He shares personal experiences raising a teenage daughter with PDA, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder to promote neurodiversity understanding. He talked with me about becoming a dad and what he has learnt about people with a disability. website: https://pdadaduk.wixsite.com/pdadaduk

I sat down for a wonderful podcast chat with wonderful BBC Disability Correspondent Nikki Fox. She is currently being an amazing reporter on TV shows like BBC Watchdog, The One Show and BBC Morning Live. We chatted about our work careers, disability and representation in media and we talked about our own lived experience as people who both have a disability & how it has helped to shape our lives. https://www.instagram.com/nikkifox?igsh=MWZ0bGNiNnMwb2owNA==

I sat down for a lovely interview with Maria who is Founder & the CEO of the wonderful charity Music of Life who are a national charity. We talked about their brilliant work and their vision and mission and aims, we chatted about disability and awareness and chatted about how people in the public can also get involved with the charityWeb : https://musicoflife.org.uk/https://www.instagram.com/musicoflifeuk/

I recently interviewed a lady called Alexia who is currently helping to cast people for the new series of the fab TV show The Great British Sewing Bee. She is currently a freelancer working with Love Productions. You can apply now to go on the new series!https://www.loveproductions.co.uk/

Recently I sat down for a chat with a lovely lady called Claire Francis who is a therapist counsellor. She told me about what counselling is, and how people can get support from her as a counsellor. We talked about our own individual lived experiences and also talked about the services that she provides as a counsellor & asked her what disability training she has had in her career as a counsellor.https://www.counsellingwithcancer.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/counsellingwithcancer

I chatted with disability Advocate Simon Airey. we talked about our lived experience and about disability awareness and more!https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-airey-5a477540/

This week I sat down for a really enjoyable podcast interview chat with Alexia Barrett from the casting company Love Productions. They make TV shows like The Great British Bake Off and The Great British Sewing Bee. She asked me how they could make the applications process accessible for people with a disability so they can apply for the new series of Sewing Bee.I talked to her about my learning disability and shared my story with her I chatted to her about what reasonable adjustments they would make for people with a disability on the show. People can apply to go on the show now. closing date is in 3 weeks time! https://www.loveproductions.co.uk/

I chatted with the Podcaster Martin Ballard about his work career and about the 2 podcasts that he currently runs online. We also talked about neurodiversity & disability & people with a learning disability. We also talked about pantomimes and theatre shows and we talked about meeting well known celebrities and more!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ballardmartin/youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDCa2I2i3DwuTNWhPguYLFw

I chatted to my friend Nicola Musgrove who is a mum and she told me about her work career and now she is a mum to her wonderful children who have a disability. We talked about attitudes, stigma, discrimination and much more!https://www.instagram.com/nicmusgrove18?igsh=a2VodjRpMGlqdjQ0

I recently sat down for a podcast chat with Gavin Neate who won a All 4 Inclusion Award in 2024. He also told me about the work that he does around disability and training & customer service. We also chatted about disability awareness, discrimination and we also had a fun quickfire chat about holidays, film, TV and lots more. Gavin's instagram account:https://www.instagram.com/neategavin/

I chatted with the disability advocate Gavin Simpson about his life and about his recent opportunity to speak in the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. We talked about disability awareness, disability discrimination and about how powerful it is when people with a disability share their real life stories to help make change with decision makers!Gavin's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/binman_to_boardroom/

I sat down for an interview chat with the amazing FND Disability Advocate Liam Virgo who shared his story of being diagnosed with Severe Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) at the age of 13 years old. He is now using his voice to help change attitudes and stigma and to help make change for other people like him. His message is " I want to use my voice to help raise awareness "follow Liam on instagram! https://www.instagram.com/liamloveslondon/

New episode chat with my guest Don Armand about our careers and about disability awareness!

I recently sat down for a podcast interview chat with the Podcaster and Broadcaster Graham Coath. He also runs a social media marketing company & an online community. We chatted about our work careers, people with a disability and labels, diagnosis, attitudes & stigma & also chatted about who our fave singers & musicians are like Kylie and Peter Gabriel!https://www.instagram.com/abetterwayoflifesocial/?hl=en

I recently chatted with TV Presenter Rob Rinder. We chatted about our careers, chatted about some of his TV shows, about learning disability & attitudes & accessibility. He also mentioned his TV mate Rylan Clark!

I recently sat down with my friend Fiona Hutchings about her work career, about disability and attitudes, getting a disability diagnosis and how we see the world, being a mum and society's attitudes and how they need to change towards people with a disability. She also told me about her petry book which is available to buy online on her website below!Fiona's websitehttps://www.fionahutchings.co.uk/

I recently sat down for a chat with Paul Taylor who runs the Whats on in Epsom online website. We chatted about what the What's on in Epsom site is about, what we both like best about living in Epsom, our memories of epsom's history and we chatted about who we would invite to our fantasy dinner parties and chatted about famous people that we have met from the local area. website links:https://www.facebook.com/WhatsOnInEpsom/abouthttps://goepsom.com/

Recently I sat down with my friend Liz Arriens-Troy who I met recently through the fab charity PSDS and she talked to me about her wonderful new book Everybody Wants a Dance with Coraline. It's about her own experiences of becoming a mum to her lovely daughter Coraline who has Downs Syndrome. She also talks what she has learnt about herself since becoming a parent. You can buy the book online!https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everybody-Wants-Dance-Coraline-Stepping-ebook/dp/B0FRYF2GJZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1F6NWQZGTMHR5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._OJ1oCRIvHE0A7VNzoieIQ.ygeZ956eFuyS0_-tYPgfKL0DbEUQEpcw1rEITFRJiGg&dib_tag=se&keywords=everybody+wants+a+dance+with+coraline&qid=1761933256&sprefix=everybosy+wants+a+dance+%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-1

Today I sat down for a fun podcast chat with Matthew Pateman who is one of the new members of pop band The Fizz aka Bucks Fizz. He told me about being in bands in the 90's & how he got into The Fizz & we chatted about how music venues should be accessible for people with additional needs & we ended it with a sing song of a iconic Bucks Fizz tune!website: https://www.thefizzofficial.com/

I recently sat down for a chat with David Stanley who is the CEO and Founder of the music Man Project. He founded the Music Man Project after meeting a young guy who had Down's Syndrome who inspired him to start a music project for people with a learning disability. They have played in London's Royal Albert Hall & in London's Iconic Theatre London Palladium. Their next dream is to play a show on Broadway. If anyone can help them to raise some money to help make this wonderful dream happen, there is a link below.website: http://www.themusicmanproject.com/Go Fund Me page : https://gofund.me/220dc2d8b

I recently sat down for a podcast chat with the teacher Caroline Keep about our careers, about all things disability and awareness, how it feels to get a diagnosis and how you can use your disability or condition as a super power!

I recently sat down for a lovely podcast interview with the lovely Kat Cauchi from the company NetSupport. She is also the editor of Rise Magazine. I asked her about her career, about her views on disability media representation and we talked about lots of other great things too. If you want to know more about Kat, please go to her Linked In page!https://www.linkedin.com/in/kat-cauchi/?originalSubdomain=uk

I recently chatted to my friend Dr Poppy Gibson is a Lecturer in Education whose key interests involve children's psychological development and mental health, and wellbeing in education.We talked about our careers, disability and attitudes and media representation and we chatted about our favourite teachers at our schools!

I recently sat down for a chat with the theatre director and writer and disability advocate and campaigner and father Stephen Unwin. We talked about his career in directing theatre shows and plays, we talked about disability issues and attitudes and stigma and media representation and he told me about his son who has a disability. He has recently written a new book which is out now called Beautiful lives which I have a mention in. The book is about the lives of people with a learning disability & society's attitudes. The link to the book on Amazon is below!https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beautiful-Lives-Learning-Disabilities-Wrong/dp/1035424738/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=54816598684&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zQXCq3e_pw6wBjz1eYt-lFOMxahTB93LqcpzHCUFY50.oa_3my5mvJ_jKhveiOaADWENvfTGBfIYpSWaC7_ecIQ&dib_tag=se&gad_source=1&hvadid=259047585024&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9045856&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=18137396020895001011--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=18137396020895001011&hvtargid=kwd-2420652935897&hydadcr=24436_1816130&keywords=stephen+unwin+beautiful+lives&mcid=6a00a6b399ce37908e574e92dcc62d58&qid=1758563254&sr=8-1

I recently sat down for a chat about all things cake, biscuits and bread and the famous TV show The Great British Bake Off with David Atherton who won 2019 series of the show. He told me who is favourite judge was, his new kids halloween cook book, and about why it is important to see people with a disability and people from other communities on big TV shows like Bake Off. We also talked about our careers!https://www.instagram.com/nomadbakerdavid/?hl=en-gb

I recently sat down for a lovely chat with a wonderful lady called Heather Bailey who I recently met through my work. Her daughter has Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities and she is a wonderful mum and advocate for her daughter. We talked about her experiences of becoming a mum, her campaigning on PMLD issues, we talked about learning disability and we talked about disability media representation too!

I chatted with Ken Ross OBE who is the Founding Officer of the National Down Syndrome Association and the Vice Chair of the the Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association. He has also done some amazing work with Bafta about media representation and people with a disability in the media. He also told me about his lovely relationship with his son Max who has Down Syndrome as his dad. We also talked about a fantastic event they hosted at 10 Downing Street which I got invited to a while ago. I also asked him some fun questions too!

I chatted with the super A List British Award Winning Actress Brenda Blethyn about her amazing acting career, all her fantastic awards & where she keeps them. We chatted about TV Drama Vera & what she took from the set after it finished filming. We also talked about her support for charities including the Washington Riding for the Disabled Centre which she supports & we chatted disability awarness and lots more!

I chatted with Comedian Alistair Barrie who I met at an awards ceremony. We chatted about his comedy career, cancel culture & why it's not ok to make offensive jokes about people with a disability. He told me about his kids who both have a disability & what he's learnt from them & we chatted about disability too. He told me he knew Chris who won Strictly last year & I said I would like to do Strictly to represent people with a learning disability like me!Please go & check out Alistair's career on his website!https://www.alistairbarrie.com/

This episode of my podcast is very special. I chatted with Gareth and John from the Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir.They told me all about how the choir formed many years ago and we chatted about some of their past concerts and we chatted about some of the songs that they perform in their concerts. We also paid a lovely tribute to my uncle who was a long standing member of the choir. If you would like to know more about the choir, please go and check out their website. They are looking for new members too!https://dublinwelsh.com/

I recently chatted with one of our charity Mencap Myth Busters who is called Michael Beynon. He has run in the London Marathon to help raise money and awareness for Mencap a few times, He is also a Rotarian and has achieved a lot of amazing things in his life and he has has a learning disability. Also, His step Dad Stephen will be taking on a big fundraising challenge to help raise money for Mencap soon, so please donate if you can by going to this link!https://www.justgiving.com/page/stephen-walker-1?utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_fundraiser_page_launched&utm_content=28d2e252-aebc-4665-a133-9b0658fe0723&utm_medium=email&utm_source=postoffice&utm_term=1739306976482

My chat with Junior Doctor Grace Spence Green. She became a person with a disability in 2018 after she was involved in an accident. She has written a fab new book called To Exist As I Am and you can buy it online from book stores like Waterstones!https://www.waterstones.com/book/to-exist-as-i-am/grace-spence-green//9781800814486?utm_source=awin&awaid=3787&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22647730732&gclid=CjwKCAjwgb_CBhBMEiwA0p3oODI0UTAVGWF2JV27AWVcXkPDEApmsWcYsryYsSE7XGSxvtbElbanORoCEbcQAvD_BwE

I chatted with Emma Steel from Every Cherry Publishing. She created an imprint that will help children with a disability to access reading and story books. I got involved with Every Cherry Publishing last year as they invited me to do an audio voice over for their version of my fave all time children's story, The Wizard of Oz and I got to read and record and channel ' My inner Dorothy! ' website : https://www.everycherry.com/

I chatted with my friend Mark Cutter aka The Man in the Purple Hat about our own lived experiences of having a disability, the differences between learning difficulty and learning disability, the medical model of learning disability & the social model of disability and what change we can make when we lobby for change. We also talked about our own work careers and what we do now and chatted about my Podcast too!

For this episode of my Podcast, I am joined for a chat by my lovely friend and actress Sally Phillips. She is currently starring in a wonderful new BBC Sitcom show called Austin which you can now watch on BBC I-Player! We chatted about the recent final Bridget Jones Movie Mad About the Boy & her character Shazza. We also chatted about the world of learning disability and why we need to see more people with a learning disability being seen positively in the media like TV and film & she talked about her own experience of becoming a mother to her son Olly who has Downs Syndrome and what he has achieved!

I chatted to Steve Lillywhite CBE who is a British Music Producer about his career working in the music industry as a music producer. He told me about when he worked with u2 on their singles and albums and how he got to work with other bands like The Rolling stones. I also told him about why I started my Podcast!

For this episode, I chatted with my lovely friend Hayley Newman & her wonderful daughter Natty who has Downs Syndrome. They chatted with me about their relationship as mum and daughter, we chatted about how important it is to see people with a disabiliy in the media like Natty and myself. We also talked about our favourite ice-cream flavours, chatted about the film Frozen and our favorite colours!

I chatted with Josh all about his career as a neurodivergent Screen Writer and abut how TV shows and dramas should hire more actors in front of the camera and behind the camera. We also talked about Disability and the importance of Representation!

I chatted with Consultant Learning Disability Nurse Jim Blair about the importance of the role that learning disability nurses do when they are supporting people with a learning disability with their healthcare in hospitals. We chatted about hospital passports & being on the learning disability register with your GP and why it's important for people with a learning disability to be on it. We also chatted about our Patron roles with the amazing inclusive dance charity Dance Syndrome.

I chat with the Campaigner and Journalist Sam Carlisle about becoming a mum to her daughter Elvi who has a disability, we chatted about our work careers and how we have worked together in the past, we chatted about disability representation in the media and also about attitudes and stigma faced by people with a disability and public attitudes.

I chatted to my friend Helen Shiers. Helen is a wonderful Mum to her daughter Thea who has Down's syndrome. She shared with me about her experiences of becoming a mum and about her experience of being a mum to Thea and we talked parenting and disability representation and we talked about disability and media. She is also a Co-Founder of a wonderful charity called PSDS which aims to support families who have children who have Downs Syndrome. website - https://www.psds.info/

I chatted with the journalist Camilla Tominey about, our work careers, The recent Traitors series and disability media press representation and both of our Podcasts and learning disability and how we have both met some of the members of the Royal Family!

Denise and Steffan from the 2024 series of Britain's Got Talent! Episode 100! Denise and Steffan from the 2024 series of Britain's Got Talent chatted with me about what it was like to be on the show, they talked about their lived experience of having visual impairments and we chatted about the importance of seeing people with a disability and conditions on TV shows as role models and they talked future plans too!

I chatted with the journalist and film maker Kate Spicer. Kate has a brother called Tom who has a learning disability and she made a film with him called Mission to Lars as it was his dream to go and meet Lars from the band Metallica! We talked about the film and about disability and media representation and about our work careers! link to film : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYeVMYPufxg

I chatted with bbc reporter Ricky Boleto about our work careers, disability media representation and how important it is!

Chat with Broadcaster and writer Jon Connell. We chatted about why we both love the TV show The Masked Singer, the fun of guessing the celebrities who are masked and who we have guessed so far on the show and we talked about media representation and about our work careers!

My chat with Arts Journalist Pat Carty- we talked Dublin, u2, media representation & our careers!

Mark Rowland & I talked about why mental health is so important to talk about and he shared the story with me of how his own brother took his own life and how he wanted to work for an organisation that supports people with their mental health

Chat with the presenter and model Marcus Ramtohul! https://www.marcusramtohul.com/

Chat with my friend Rob Holland who is Director at the NAS Charity in Scotland. We talked about our work, and disability and media representation of people with a disability and much more!