The Happy Hour
An hour of happiness and wellbeing.
Listen every Monday from 1pm, repeated Thursdays at 6pm and Sundays at 10am.
The Happy Hour is a weekly mix of great music, chat, and happiness and wellbeing hosted by disability advocate Claire Sisk and Paulina Kuchorew. You'll hear experts share advice on looking after our wellbeing, catch candid conversations about sight loss and mental health, and enjoy some music therapy!
Episodes
Showing episodes 1 to 10 of 113
17 November 2025: Unseen Adventures Podcast & The Book of Form and Emptiness
We’re joined by Rimple Raja, she’s a wonderful mum, podcaster and avid traveller and she’ll share her story with us, plus it’s time for our November book recommendation. Amelia reviews a book she recently read that took her by surprise, Ruth Ozeki’s “The Book of Form and Emptiness.”
10 November 2025: Trying New Things & Parenthood Pressures
We hear from parenting expert Zoe Watson about the pressure on parents to be perfect. Plus, Emmy joins us to share how she found confidence through trying new things and why it’s important to still go out of your comfort zone, no matter what level of sight you have.
3 November 2025: Community & Cosy November Facts
We’re chatting with Bruce about the importance of finding your community and getting connected with others after sight loss. And since November is here, Claire and Paulina will check out all the random, and mostly food-themed, national days for the month. Plus, Amelia returns with the latest Almanac as she looks at facts, history, folklore and nature in November.
27 October 2025: Counselling, Inclusion Coaching, & Finding Support
We’re joined by Accredited Counsellor and Volunteer Mentor with RNIB’s Counselling and Wellbeing Team Malachy McGuone to chat about the counselling service and how important volunteers are for its delivery. Plus, Inclusion Coach Hannah Cohen joins us to chat advocating for your needs and her unexpected career change following a sight loss diagnosis.
13 October 2025: Combat Stress and Perfectionism, plus a Sunny Book Recommendation
We focus on managing stress and pressures of the busy pre-Christmas period as yoga teacher Dawn joins us for another Off The Matt Chat. Plus, Beatrix brings you her sunny book recommendation with a Talking Book perfect for warming up these colder months.
6 October 2025: It’s World Mental Health Day
This week we have facts about World Mental Health Day, a simple breathing exercise, monthly Almanac to help us connect with nature and history of October and finally, Jameelah (Jam) joins us to chat support, wellbeing and importance of advocacy work.
29 September 2025: Football, Community, & a Spooky Recommendation
This week, Jean joins us for a chat about her love of football and how she found a brilliant community through an RNIB weekly football call group. Plus, with Halloween fast approaching, Emmy shares a slightly spooky recommendation as she reviews a popular Netflix series directed by Tim Burton.
22 September 2025: Attention Students!
We chat with Mark Wright from the Futures Team at The Royal Society for Blind Children to hear their tips on how to advocate for your needs when starting university or college. Plus, student Aliza Rehman will speak about her experience of going to mainstream school and share what helped her. And finally, Claire shares how she got to hold Chris Martin’s pants. Yes, we do mean, Chris Martin from Coldplay!
8 September 2025: Fostering A Good Relationship With Ourselves & How To Manage Daily Anxieties
We talk fostering a good relationship with ourselves, and for our monthly self-help book recommendation we bring a title which focuses on managing our daily anxieties and finding peace. Plus, funny animal facts are back this week, and for our funny news story, we go across the pond to a unique establishment.
1 September 2025: MACS Charity, September Almanac & Air Fryer Cookies
We’re learning about a unique charity supporting people with specific eye conditions, Amelia returns with this month’s Almanac and facts around the month from history, folklore and nature. And finally, we try out a tasty recipe. This time, it’ll be an air fryer one!