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 147
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!
8 June 2026: What’s Thalassaemia & In Conversation With World’s Strongest Disabled Man
This week we chat with Evan Schwerbrock, founder of Cane & Able Fitness who is preparing for a very exciting challenge. Paulina learns about Thalassaemia, a group of inherited blood disorders that prevent your body from producing normal haemoglobin, leading to anaemia. And as always, lots of happy tunes, our funny news story and some positive health news chat.
1 June 2026: Sensed Not Seen Garden Design & June Almanac
A new month is here, so Amelia has another Almanac for us with facts from history, nature and folklore, plus it’s time to go Down the Memory Lane to the year 2013. We’re also speaking with amateur gardener Rebecca Williams about her Sensed, Not Seen garden design. It was inspired by her dad, created with blind and partially sighted people in mind, and will feature at the upcoming BBC Gardeners’ World Live event in Birmingham later this month.
25 May 2026: Tackling Exam Stress & What Does Being Wealthy Mean to You?
We’re back and chatting with yoga teacher Dawn, this time asking the question of what does being wealthy mean to you? Plus, as exams are underway for students across the UK, we’re joined by Emmy from Emmy’s VIP Life to hear her tips for blind and partially sighted students prepping for exams.
18 May 2026: Fashion in Your 70s, Confidence, & Easy Slow Cooker Recipe
We talk fashion in your 70s with Kay Bennett, try and guess what this month’s cute animal is for our funny animal facts and finally Paulina tries out an easy slow cooker recipe for honey garlic chicken.
11 May 2026: Taking Action For Good Mental Health
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week so we’re focusing on this year’s theme, which is taking action for good mental health. We’re going to hear from GB Disabled Strongman, chat VIPA about their VI tennis sessions in Yorkshire, and also share a selection of wellbeing tips from our blind and partially sighted guests.
4 May 2026: Head On Campaign & Audio Stories For Children
We speak with mental health activist and rapper Shocka about Head On, a major new mental health campaign calling for a faster, fairer and more modern mental health system in Britain. We also hear from blind storyteller and songstress Yuna, who tells us about her YouTube channel, which shares free audio stories for children. Plus, we take a look at this week’s funny news story and look back at the year 2022 for Down the Memory Lane.