Taking The Dis!

Barbara Cox Lovesy is a nutritionist, author and naturopath who has travelled the world to learn about different ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle. She joins the team to chat about her upbringing in Canada, where she was an ice skating champion, and her subsequent adventures across the globe. A decade spent in Japan has shaped many of the lessons she teaches today and she treats the team to a matcha tea ceremony and shares stories of her time in the 'Land of the Rising Sun'. The Taking The Dis! team question Barbara on ways they can improve their own nutrition and how she has helped disabled people with her findings over the years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Baynton is the Chief Internal Auditor at Quilter plc. but alongside his day-to-day work, he is helping drive the company's mission to welcome a diverse and inclusive workforce. Spurred on by his son's disability, Daniel is passionate about ensuring disabled people are able to see a way forward for themselves in the working world. Daniel welcomed the Taking The Dis team to Quilter's offices in Southampton for a chat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taking The Dis! is back for 2026 and we start the year with a brilliant guest - the incredible Laura Roberts. Laura is the legal director of Liberty Leasing and she joins the team to chat about how she has fought her way to the top of a male-dominated industry and how she can be an inspiration to young disabled people who are at the start of their career path. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ruby Bishop is on a mission to make PE and education more inclusive in mainstream schools. Her lived experience of being excluded has fuelled her determination to make sure no young disabled person feels the same way in the future. The British wheelchair tennis player has launched a campaign in a bid to make educators sit up and take notice. Ruby's story is gathering momentum and has been heard in parliament. She joined Charlie and Lewis to chat about what she wants to achieve. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Youth Ambassador Lexie has worked tirelessly to improve her communication skills, with the help of speech and language therapist Caroline Casula. As part of Disability History Month, the pair - who got to know each other at Treloar's School and College - sit down to chat about the advancement in technology that enables people with disabilities to communicate more efficiently. Huge thanks to Beck London for their amazing support with this project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Youth Ambassador Sophia is reunited with her surgeon, Caroline Edwards, as part of Disability History month. The pair discuss the operations Sophia has undergone, how treatment for cerebral palsy has developed and they tackle the tricky subject of adult care for people living with the condition. Huge thanks to Beck London for their amazing support with this project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Youth Ambassador Callum has been catching up with Dr. Pinki Munot - the specialist who first diagnosed him with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis - as part of Disability History month. You can hear their full conversation - full of insight, laughs, and powerful reflections on Callum’s journey. Huge thanks to Beck London for their amazing support with this project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Between asking Javeno McLean to be a guest on Taking The Dis! and the inspiring personal trainer arriving at our live show at Mercedes-Benz World, he was crowned a winner at the 2025 Pride of Britain awards. He joined Callum and Milo on stage to talk about what inspires him to help disabled people push themselves further and he gives the boys a lesson in how to talk with more confidence and back themselves to achieve whatever they want to in life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At a special event at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey, Taking The Dis! was recorded live in front of a small audience. Sailor Jazz Turner joined Sophia and Lexie on stage to discuss how she became the first disabled person to complete a solo, non-stop, and unassisted circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland. She now has plans to take Project Fear to the next level as she begins preparations to take her boat around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mystery Jets have made a pledge. They will only perform at venues that take accessibility seriously. Lead singer Blaine Harrison joins Milo and Sophia to chat about his career in music, how his disability has led to adaptions to touring life and how he aims to hold venues accountable if they do not have the correct infrastructure in place for disabled musicians and music fans to have their needs met when performing or attending a gig. There is also talk of shark attacks, cupboards for dressing rooms and how carrots are the new rock and roll snack of choice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To mark International Podcast Day, the Taking The Dis! team have been reflecting on their time on the show. Recorded during a special visit to the Sky News studios, Sophia, Lexie, Callum and Billy discussed what the podcast means to them and how being a Knights Foundation Youth Ambassador has helped them in their development as young adults. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vicky Roy has spent the last few years of his life travelling across India to tell inspirational stories in order to raise awareness and combat taboos. The documentary photographer has teamed up with Ferose VR - founder of the India Inclusion Foundation - on the Everyone is Good at Something project, which showcases the incredible lives of people living with disabilities in India. With Sophia in the UK, Vicky in India and Ferose in the United States, Taking The Dis! goes global in this truly inspiring episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lexie is keen to grill the rest of the team on their experiences of love, dating and relationships. The Taking The Dis! team chat about the importance of first impressions and who should pay the bill, as well as whether they reveal their disability in the early stages of talking to a potential new partner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid are going for a third successive men's wheelchair doubles title at Wimbledon, with Hewett also aiming to defend his singles title. They have been warming up for the Grand Slam by competing at the Lexus British Open in Roehampton. Two-time Paralympian Louise Hunt Skelley invited us to the tournament to see Hewett and Reid in action, as well as meet the team behind the event including James Ascroft, who is responsible for repairing players' wheelchairs. Hewett called the event the "perfect preparation" for Wimbledon, and we were able to find out why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abbie Hills is helping people achieve their dreams of working in TV and film, regardless of their disability. She is a talent agent, writer, actor, and access coordinator with over a decade of hands-on experience both in front of and behind the camera. She joins the team to talk about how she has fought hard to earn her place in the industry and how she hopes to guide people on their own path through her agency, The Dazey Hills Company. There is also a big discussion about shoes. And jeans.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Taking The Dis! first started, Sophia spoke of how social media star Jordan Bone was one of her biggest idols and how her motivational videos on YouTube and Instagram have helped her coped with different situations. So, it was a 'pinch me' moment when Sophia was able to have a chat with Jordan about her life, her struggles and the reason she wants to continue inspiring people through the work she does as a singer, writer and life coach. The pair discuss fashion, beauty and poetry as they discuss some of their biggest challenges and how they don't let disability get in the way of their goals and dreams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paralympic hopeful Olivia Gallagher joins the team to talk about how she is setting her sights on a place at LA 2028. After overcoming a number of setbacks, Olivia has changed her sport in order to give herself a better chance of competing on the biggest stage. Olivia shares stories of the battles she has faced and talks about her determination to make workplaces more inclusive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pensions, savings and interest rates are all things we need to understand, but are rarely taught about them in school. As the Taking The Dis! team head towards independence, they quiz the team from MyBnk about all things finance in this episode. Their finance habits are analysed and they start to question the decision they make with money! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for Part 2 of our chat with Worthing FC owner George Dowell, who shares his hopes for the future of the football club he saved. George also talks about what it was like to have a documentary made about his life and relives the special moment when he was awarded an MBE by Princess Anne at Windsor Castle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Worthing FC owner George Dowell joins us to share his incredible story of how a life-changing accident led to him saving his local football club. George also opens up on family life, becoming a reality TV star on The Undateables, having a documentary (The Club That George Built) made about him and being awarded an MBE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reach Social Enterprises has the objective of offering people with a learning and/or physical disability the opportunity to engage in meaningful activities and projects following social enterprise values. Rich and Steve join Lewis to chat about what they do and share some of the success stories from the projects they have worked on. This episode was recorded at the Knights Foundation Business Expo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We go to the University of Reading to meet up with Sophia, who is studying law. She tells us how life as a university student has changed her and helped develop a greater sense of independence. She also introduces us to one of her lecturers, Dr Rachel Horton, who is an associate professor in the law school at the university, as well as the academic disability advisor within the law school. Rachel shares how accessibility to higher education has changed over the last two decades and outlines the steps the University of Reading takes to ensure an inclusive environment is provided to students. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taking The Dis! is a podcast from The Knights Foundation, which is a charity supporting young people with disabilities and their families. We are lucky enough to be supported by a large group of patrons. These businesses and organisations provide financial backing to the charity, as well as continued support to our projects and events. Why do they do it? We have caught up with some of them to find out more. This episode features Vicki Clements from Stewart&Co., Martin Nicholson from ProAction HR, Paul McFarlane from McFarlane Money Matters and Michael Eslami from Estate Plan Office. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let Me In is a business idea from students at Treloars College, who are urging companies to become more accessible. They've devised a system which allows members of the team to visit business premises and carry out an audit to see how easy it is for disabled people to access the site. Their aim is to create accessible communities, improve employment opportunities, raise awareness and, essentially, change lives. Hazel, Archie and Cameron have joined us on Taking The Dis! to tell us all about it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Knights Foundation Children of Courage Awards give special people the chance to be recognised for the amazing things they do. From inspiring young carers to incredible fundraisers and from sporting superstars to unbelievably brave individuals, the 2024 awards saw trophies presented to some truly wonderful young people. Luckily, the Taking The Dis! team was there to meet the winners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Milo has often spoken of his love of art and he got the surprise of his life on a visit to Southampton City Art Gallery when he saw his work on display in the gallery. After recovering from the shock, he sat down with Callum and the gallery's exhibition officer, Jessica Whitfield, to chat about the surprise, as well as their hopes for the future of the art industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From a young age, David Holmes had a clear talent for gymnastics which led to him becoming a stunt double for major movies including the Harry Potter franchise. In this episode, David shares the story of how he went from working alongside Matt LeBlanc in his film debut to being the double for Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe. His career was cut short in a devastating way and David opens up to the team about the accident which left him paralysed. In the most positive, uplifting conversation, David talks about life since his accident as well as sharing tales from behind the scenes at Hogwarts, his friendship with Radcliffe, Tom Felton and Matthew Lewis and he speaks about his desire to make a real impact on the new Harry Potter television series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paris has put on an incredible summer of sport by hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games. With the Paralympics being just a short train ride away, we knew we had to be there. So, the Taking The Dis! team boarded the Eurostar and headed to France. We had the absolute joy of spending the day at Roland Garros, seeing British wheelchair tennis players Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid in action and trying to cheer them to Paralympic glory. Did it work? Spoiler alert - yes it did! Join us on our journey to Paris for the most memorable of days. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inspirational work colleagues Jack Stacy and Michael Smith are taking on a huge fundraising challenge of climbing 24 Lake District peaks in 24 hours! Michael's family has been profoundly impacted by sight-loss and he and his twin brother have under 10% of useable remaining sight. Michael will be guided on the challenge by Jack, who is chairman of disability charity, SeeAbility. The pair join the Taking The Dis! team to chat about the challenge and Michael shares how sight-loss has changed his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of Southampton FC's return to the Premier League, one of their club legends, Francis Benali sits down for a chat with Milo (big Saints fan!) to talk about his career as well as the incredible fundraising efforts that led to him being appointed an MBE. This isn't your normal football chat about 4-4-2 and VAR as Francis reveals the challenges he has faced and the methods he has used to overcome them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harvey Rathore is the Engagement Lead for The Quilter Foundation, who have provided grants to support family days for The Knights Foundation. She joins the team to discuss what family means to her, as well as discussing what the world of work looks like for people with disabilities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From mosh pits to portaloos, the team chat about their music festival experiences and what makes attending big events a daunting experience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London Marathon hero Lloyd Martin joins the team, with his mum Ceri, to talk about his journey to becoming a Guinness World Record holder! He is the youngest person to complete a marathon in his learning disability category. From training together to crossing the finish line of one of the world's most iconic races, Lloyd and Ceri share their special story. Also, find out why Lloyd's face ended up on a billboard in Leicester Square! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time to meet Charlie! As well as being a Knights Foundation Youth Ambassador, he's the only member of the team in full-time work. He shares his experiences of life in the working world as a disabled person. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angered by some recent conversations on a different podcast, the team chat about some of the abuse disabled people deal with on a daily basis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parents at a primary school in Scotland were recently offered class photos with or without pupils with complex needs. Natalie Pinnell's daughter, Erin, was one of those excluded from a set of photographs and she speaks to the team about the upset caused and what she hopes to achieve from the story gaining national attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch out, the boss is about! The Knights Foundation founder Tony Knights joins the team to talk about his career in the Army, why he set up The Knights Foundation and his plans for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you cope with life? Lewis, Sophia, Callum and Milo share their favourite ways of dealing with things when the going gets tough. There's shooting hoops, talking to animals and good ol' fashioned singing at the top of your lungs! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

George Robinson - star of Netflix series Sex Education - joins Callum and Sophia to chat about his breakthrough success on the programme. He discusses having to adapt to life in a wheelchair, developing the character of Isaac Goodwin and his love of working alongside Emma Mackey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The team return for the first episode of a brand new series of Taking The Dis! Since they were last together, Sophia and Callum have gone to uni and have stories to tell!Show Notes01:30 - Tatts. Some new artwork has appeared.06:30 - Callum's first thoughts on uni life07:10 - Sophia shares her culinary experiences at university08:02 - Callum's fire alarm fury09:08 - Sophia's rowdy housemates10:15 - Sophia finds a guy in the kitchen12:11 - When homesickness strikes13:25 - Sophia gets lost and Mum saves the day14:20 - Lewis shares concerns about going to uni15:45 - Sophia's new friendships 20:40 - Fresher's week and clubbing challenges24:30 - Managing (or mismanaging) money26:46 - Sophia thrown in at the deep end Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The genie's magic lamp has been dusted off and our team share their three wishes in this episode with intriguing outcomes.Show Notes00:55 - Sophia's mum, Steph, joins the conversation.02:50 - Find out Lewis' first wish which he says will "never happen".03:50 - Lewis finds his romantic side.04:25 - Sophia talks about being accused of catfishing.07:03 - Milo is ready to take the world of art by storm.09:30 - Callum's Canadian dream.14:09 - Sophia shares her "basic" dreams.17:13 - Sophia's been writing poetry for many years as she shares her work with the team.19:17 - The team discuss the importance of support workers for people with disabilities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Someone with a disability can't skydive!" Wanna bet?! In this episode, the team talk about the things they thought they'd never be able to do and the people who inspire them to achieve great things.Show Notes00:57 - Sophia shares her experience of skydiving.03:11 - "I could parachute out of the plane onto the summit of Mount Everest". Lewis has big plans.05:11 - Lewis speaks about his inspiration, Ade Adepitan.07:00 - Sophia calls for more diversity on reality TV shows.10:00 - Sophia speaks about the acceptance of failing at everyday tasks. 13:18 - "It's what I wanted to be" - Milo shares a moment of inspiration.14:26 - Callum says inspiration can be found much closer to home than expected. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Lewis' mum, Vanessa, shares her story of finding out about her son's disability and how it changed her life. The team also discuss future plans!Show Notes01:47 - "It has changed my life miraculously".03:29 - Callum and Sophia back Lewis for Olympic success.06:04 - Vanessa shares the story of realising Lewis was disabled.10:51 - Lewis shares his hopes for the future.13:50 - Milo's five-year plan.15:02 - "I want to help people who can't advocate for themselves". Sophia ready to rule the world!16:47 - Vanesa encouraged by a more welcoming working world.19:52 - Callum has a strong message for transport companies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Youth Ambassadors are joined by pupil support officer Jo Nash, who shares stories of working with the team during their school days. There's then the small matter of discussing family life and how jealously among siblings can cause conflict.Show Notes00:54 - Introducing Jo Nash! Jo shares stories of working with the Youth Ambassadors and find out why Callum thinks she's "too honest".04:36 - "Do you think your disability takes over family life?"07:30 - Lewis explains why he had to move to England after finding out he was disabled.09:52 - "I don't agree with what she does". Milo speaks about his relationship with his siblings.12:28 - "They just gave me a shove". Lewis speaks about literal pushy parents.17:35 - The team discuss their relationships with their parents.26:05 - "I might milk it a little bit". Lewis shares how he uses his disability to his advantage.31:18 - "If the baby fall over, how am I going to pick it up?". Sophia looks ahead to having her own family. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet the team as Callum, Sophia, Lewis and Milo introduce themselves and share their thoughts on tackling their teenage years with a disability!Show Notes03:24 - What does being a teenager mean?05:28 - "They're all little brats!". Callum remembers his school days07:55 - The team talk about pushing boundaries to stand out09:16 - "They'll wrap you in bubble wrap". The team discuss seeking independence.11:10 - Dealing with rudeness from the general public13:40 - "I'm a very extreme person". How do the team deal with hormones?17:42 - The perks of disability!22:12 - The logistics of romance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.