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 153
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.
29 June 2026: Let’s Talk Breast Health & July Almanac
On the show this week we hear from Sally Kum from charity Breast Cancer Now about the importance of open conversations around breast health and their Afternoon Tea fundraiser this summer. Plus, Amelia is back with the July Almanac and more facts from history, nature and folklore all about the month. And finally, Claire and Paulina take a look at this week’s funny news story, chat using accessible apps to do your make up, and check out some national days.
22 June 2026: World Sickle Cell Day & Crispy Smashed Potato Salad
Friday 19th of June marked World Sickle Cell Day and with this year's theme: Young Voices Rising, we spoke with John James, OBE, Chief Executive of the Sickle Cell Society, and Addassa Follett, their Children and Young Person Mentoring Programme Manager. Plus, we try a delicious crispy smashed potato salad recipe and Claire and Paulina check out some recent positive campaigns that want to make a positive impact on the world.
15 June 2026: Exciting New Festival & My Perfect Companion Memoir
This week we hear how a new festival combining accessible sport and disability-led culture is coming to Liverpool. Plus, we’re chatting with author Billy Horsburgh, who will share how his drive and determination to raise a lively jack Russell terrier as someone with cerebral palsy and glaucoma, has inspired him to write a memoir My Perfect Companion: Because love is blind. And finally, Paulina will dig up a shocking news story, and it’s time for Claire to guess this month’s mystery animal. We’re up to letter U!