This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with actor and star of the West End Ed Larkin.

In today’s conversation Evie speaks with Ed and learns all about his childhood growing up as a young person with cerebral palsy. Ed also shares where is love of performing first began and the incredible experience he had playing the central character in the West End musical The Little Big Things.

This was a brilliant talk with a wonderful guest and we thank Ed for finding the time in his busy schedule to join Evie on her podcast.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with comedian, podcaster, author and ambassador for the Scope charity Richard Herring.

In today’s conversation Evie speaks with Richard and learns all about his journey into comedy, the joys he finds in touring and performing live, and the impetus behind starting his brilliant podcast The Leicester Square Theatre Podcast. Richard also shares on his experience with testicular cancer and explains some of the ways he has grown from the ordeal and how it now informs his writing.

This was a lovely conversation with a brilliant comedian and we thank Richard for his time and energy.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with world champion paraclimber and patron of the VICTA charity, Abbie Robinson.

In today’s conversation Evie speaks with Abbie and learns all about her particular V.I. condition and how she discovered and became involved with climbing when she was a child. Abbie also shares with Evie what it is she loves about climbing, the skills and qualities that she deems important to her success, and also the fantastic work that she does promote and support the wonderful VICTA charity.  

This was a fascinating conversation with an exceptional sports person and we thank Abbie greatly for her time and sharing her experience so generously.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with adventurer, Millimetres 2 Mountains charity founder, broadcaster and author Ed Jackson.

In today’s episode Evie talks with Ed and learns all about the life changing accident that ended a very rewarding career as a professional rugby player and the significant physical and mental challenges he faced learning to adapt to the injuries he suffered. Ed also describes the purpose he now finds in helping others deal with their own trauma through the work he does with his charity Millimetres 2 Mountains, and the great enjoyment he also gets from broadcasting for the BBC on sporting events such as the Paralympic games in Paris.  

This was a wonderful conversation with a remarkable guest and we thank Ed greatly for his time and personal insights.  

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with Rashmi Becker founder of the Step Change Studios dance company.

Through today’s interview Evie learns all about Rashmi’s dance company and the very personal reasons behind why she decided to establish Step Change Studios in the first place. Rashmi also explains how she carefully plans and designs her classes, the benefits to be gained by people with disabilities taking part in dance, and her exciting aspirations for the future.

This was a sparkling conversation with a wonderful person and we thank Rashmi very much for her time and generosity.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with Jodi-Alyssa Bickerton from the incredible Graeae Theatre Company.

In today’s talk Evie learns all about Jodi’s life and work at Graeae including: how she first became interested in theatre and some of the early experiences that informed her journey into the profession, and the work that she now does supporting others realise their talents and achieve dreams.

This was a beautiful and far-reaching conversation with a wonderful guest and we thank Jodi-Alyssa for her time and generosity.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with The Blind Chocolatier, Stuart Hann.

Over the course of today’s conversation Evie learns all about Stuart’s life, career and craft first hearing about how he lost his sight and the dramatic impact this had upon his life and job as a chef, and then the resilience and resourcefulness Stuart showed responding and adapting to his changing circumstances. Stuart also talks about how he now makes his chocolates and sells them out of his shop in the Lake District and through his on-line platform.  

This was a fantastic conversation with an amazing guest and we thank Stuart for his time and energy.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with Strategic Disability Lead for the BBC, Robbie Crow.

During this incredibly vibrant interview Evie speaks to Robbie about his life and career discussing many interesting topics including; Robbie’s particular VI condition and his journey into employment after University, the impact learning about the social model of disability had upon his life, and the many wonderful benefits to be gained from employing disabled people within a workforce.  

This was a brilliant conversation with a very significant person and we thank Robbie very much for his time and insights.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with actor and disability advocate Keron Day.

In this highly engaging conversation Evie speaks to Keron about his life and acting career learning lots about his experience as a child growing up with cerebral palsy and the way in which he found his love of acting.

Keron also shares on some of the roles that he played, including that of David in ‘Kirkmoore’ for the BBC, and explains the thinking behind his personal mantra of ‘Diversity without disability is not diversity’

This was a fantastic conversation with a truly lovely and highly gifted creative talent and we thank Keron greatly for his time and energy.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with artist and patron and ambassador for the VICTA charity Clarke Reynolds.

In this colourful conversation Evie learns all about Clarke’s life and work covering a wide range of interesting topics including Clarke’s VI condition and his journey to becoming an artist, the many different types of stimuli that inspire his creativity, and his fantastic work using Braille as a mode of artistic expression.   

This was a wonderfully provocative conversation with a brilliantly creative talent, we thank Clarke very much for his time and involvement.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with best-selling children’s author and playwright, Julia Donaldson.

During this wonderful interview Evie learns all about Julia’s life and work covering topics such as Julia’s childhood and the books and poems that left an impression on her, how studying and busking in France informed her writing career, and the fascinating origins of the Gruffalo story.

This was a beautiful conversation with an incredible guest and we thank Julia for her great time and insight.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with former Harry Potter stuntman, podcaster, and star of The Boy Who Lived documentary, David Holmes.

During this joyful conversation Evie learns all about David’s life, career and experience covering a wide variety of topics such as: his fond memories working as a top Hollywood stunt man before suffering a life changing injury, David’s journey after his accident learning how to adapt and live with his disability, and the fantastic work he now does raising money for the Stanmore Hospital.

This was a wonderfully fun conversation with a beautiful guest and we thank David for his great kindness, generosity, and joy.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with visually impaired astronomer and creator of the ‘Tactile Universe’ project, Dr Nic Bonne.

During this fascinating discussion Evie learns all about Nic’s life and work including: the childhood experiences that inspired his deep love and interest in astronomy, some of the challenges he has faced in his work as a visually impaired scientist, and the wonderful ‘Tactile Universe’ project. 

This was a stimulating conversation with a fascinating guest and we thank Nic greatly for his time and wisdom. 

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with acclaimed chef Michel Roux Jr.

During this happy conversation Evie learns all about Michel’s life and work including: the wonderful influence his family had on his career, the honour he felt serving dinner for Queen Elizebeth II at his London restaurant Le Gavroche, and the joy and freedom he finds in long distance running.

This was a lovely conversation with a fantastic guest and we thank Michel greatly for his time and energy. 

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with founder of the VisABLE People Agency, Louise Dyson, MBE.

In this lovely conversation Evie learns all about the reasons for Louise creating the agency in the first instance, some of the challenges that she and her clients face when accessing the industry, and her wonderful aspirations for the future.

This was a fascinating conversation with a lovely guest and we thank Louise greatly for her time and kindness.  

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with visually impaired paralympic skier Menna Fitzpatrick.

During this fascinating conversation Evie gets an insight into Menna’s life and exciting career learning all about the challenges she faced as a young child growing up with her particular visual impairment, how Menna prepares for races and builds the trust between her and her ski guides needed to succeed in such a demanding discipline, and the great joy and thrill she gets from the sport she participates in.

This was a wonderfully varied and exciting conversation with a very talented guest and we thank Menna greatly for her time and involvement.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with award winning accessibility innovator and creator of ‘Disabled By Society’, Jamie Shields.

In this lovely conversation Evie talks to Jamie about his childhood growing up as a teenager registered blind and some of the difficulties he faced navigating school, university and then employment.

Jamie also discusses the complex challenges he realised discovering his own internal able-ism, and the powerful work he now does breaking down barriers and bringing about change for other disabled individuals.

As well as all this Jamie shares his great pride at being placed on last year’s Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list.

This was a fantastic conversation with an amazing person and we thank Jamie greatly for time, insight and passion!

#DisabilityPower100

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie speaks with Nathan Geering – fire performer, martial artist, stunt performer, and accessibility innovator.  

In this lovely conversation Evie learns all about Nathan’s life and work, including: where he gets his ideas for films from, how he became interested in the exciting activities he is now famous for, and the ‘Rational Method’ Nathan’s groundbreaking accessibility program which harnesses the creativity of break dancing and hip-hop to make the world more accessible for people with visual impairments.

A huge thank you to Nathan for his time and energy, it really was an honour to talk with him.

This week on Talking in the Dark Evie sits down and speaks with non-other than naturalist, explorer, TV presenter, and writer Steve Backshall.

In this wonderful conversation Evie learns all about Steve’s exciting life including when his love of nature first began, a number of his favourite expeditions, and the great passion that motivates and drives his work.

Steve also shares some of his favourite sounds from the natural world and describes the incredible animals and birds that make them.

This was a fascinating talk with a truly inspirational guest and we thank Steve greatly for his time and energy.

And this week on Talking in the Dark, Evie chats with Ben Wilson from Extant, the UK’s leading theatre company for blind and visually impaired practitioners and audiences.

In this wonderfully insightful conversation Evie talks with Ben about a number of topics including; the fantastic work that Extant do creating and performing ground-breaking theatre productions, and some of the barriers visually impaired people face when accessing and involving themselves in theatre.

This was a very stimulating and rewarding conversation, Huge thanks to Ben from Extant for joining us this week.

In this lovely conversation Julia and Emma discuss with Evie the many ways the charity intervenes to protect horses and ponies that are at risk, and share a number of uplifting success stories they have had over the years.

Evie also talks with her guests about her love of riding and describes how she controls a horse without the use of sight. 

Thank you very much to Julia and Emma, it was a joy to meet you both.

During the conversation Evie and Mr Cannan discuss lots of very interesting subjects related to the role of Chief Minister including; what the job entails, how the Island’s government engages with the general public, and the work that is done to include the disabled community in the decisions that are made.

The Chief Minister also shares with Evie his hopes and aspirations for the Manx community along with some of his aims for the future. 

This was a fascinating chat with a very significant person who works at the very top of Manx politics. A huge thank you to Mr Cannan for giving so generously of his valuable time.

The winter time can be a particularly difficult period for the Island’s hedgehogs - its cold, food is in short supply and due to this many struggle to prepare for hibernation.

This happy conversation covers lots of interesting topics including the importance of hedgehogs to the eco system and what you can do should you find a hedgehog in your garden this year.   

Thank you to Sandy for coming on the podcast, it was truly lovely to meet you.

This week on Talking in the Dark, Evie chats with the Isle of Man Children’s Champion, Kerry Sharpe, MLC. Through this interview Evie discovered what the role of Children’s Champion is, how Kerry works to better the lives of the young vulnerable children of the Manx community, and some of the challenges she faces in her role.

This was a lovely and highly illuminating conversation with a person that holds a very significant position in relation to the young people of the Isle of Man.

A huge thank you to Kerry for agreeing to come on the podcast, it was really very nice to meet you.

In this highly informative episode of Talking in the Dark, Evie speaks with Lucy Buxton from the Manx Deaf Society about some of the problems that deaf people face in society and many of the misconceptions that surround this very common disability.

A huge thank you to Lucy for taking the time to speak with Evie and helping to spread more awareness of a very significant condition.