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 156
7 September 2026: How Community and Yoga Gives You Strength, & 8 Million Ways to Happiness
This week on the show, a book recommendation from the self-help shelves takes us on a reflective journey through Japan in search of Eight Million Ways to Happiness. And we catch up with yoga teacher Dawn Blezard to chat community, yoga, and taking on big challenges in support of others.
31 August 2026: New Parents Struggling With Mental Health & September Almanac
On the show this week, we chat about the reality of new parenthood and how to support your own wellbeing at a time that can be a big adjustment. Sharing her advice is British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) registered therapist and parenting mental health expert, Sarah Wheatley. Plus, we have the latest Almanac with facts from history, nature and folklore as Amelia tells us more about the month of September and what we can look out for as we finally enter the cosy season.
24 August 2026: In Conversation With Musician Neil Billinness
This week we share another personal story. Musician Neil Billinness will chat to us about losing his sight after a stroke, and turning to music for comfort in hard times following the death of his partner and his dad’s brain cancer diagnosis. We’ll also dig deep into his musical style and inspirations. Plus, funny animal facts are back for this month, and we have a cute animal-themed funny news story for you.
17 August 2026: Playlist for Life & Making Work Placements Accessible
This week we speak with Emmy about her recent work placement with a local theatre and how it is being adapted for her needs. Plus, we learn how music can help memory and support with dementia as Amelia speaks with Pam from charity Playlist For Life.
10 August 2026: Stickler Syndrome & August Almanac
We learn about Stickler Syndrome, what is it and how it can affect your eye sight. We’ll be speaking with Amelia Aves, who was the first one in her family to be diagnosed with this rare genetic disorder affecting connective tissue. She'll tell us about the importance of early diagnosis and a free screening tool available through charity Stickler Syndrome UK. We're also joined by Amelia as she brings us the latest Almanac with some facts from history, folklore and nature. And finally, our funny news story takes on a very wholesome spin.
3 August 2026: Overcoming Meningitis & Finding Positivity In Life
This week on the show, we hear a personal story as Patricia shares what it was like to contract Meningitis in her late 30s and how she adjusted to the loss of mobility, sight and hearing at the time. Plus, since it’s a new month, Claire and Paulina look back to year 2017 for Down the Memory Lane, a year that was particularly hard for Claire.
27 July 2026: Health, Wellbeing & Blind Baseball
On the Happy Hour this week, we speak with Sheraz Chohan and Amjad Khan from UK Blind Baseball Association about the sport itself, its benefits on wellbeing, and their Visually Impaired Health and Wellbeing project. Plus, a funny news story, some wellbeing tips, and we look at upcoming national days.
20 July 2026: Protecting Your Liver & How Can Young People Access The Free MenB Vaccination?
This week, we speak with charity Liver UK about liver disease, misconceptions, prevention and where to find support. And since The Government has launched a free, one-off MenB vaccination programme for current Year 13 pupils and under-25s starting university or residential further education this autumn, we’re going to learn about the impact this could have on the lives of young people and their families.
13 July 2026: Healthy Guts!
We’re going to chat all things gut health as we hear from UK’s digestive health charity Guts UK, they'll share some tips but also tells us more about the gut microbiome and why it's important. Plus, Paulina tries out a couple gut friendly recipes, one for a cottage cheese bread and one for some overnight cocoa oats.
6 July 2026: Charles Bonnet Syndrome In Children & Buddha’s 2 Arrows
This week we’re chatting Charles Bonnet Syndrome, a condition which causes silent visual hallucinations in individuals who have experienced vision loss. We’re speaking with Judith Potts from Charity Esme’s Umbrella and Aliza Rehman about the charity’s latest campaign raising awareness of the condition in children. Plus, yoga teacher Dawn Blezard is back for another off the matt chat. This time, she breaks down a famous quote by Buddha.