RNIB Conversations

With spring in the air plus the days getting warmer and longer, this week’s check-in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick is all about hay fever. Elizabeth began by explaining to RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey what happens in the body when we get hay fever and the types of symptoms people get with hay fever too. Then to what people can take to help combat hay fever. You will find more information about hay fever on the NHS website - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hay-fever/To get in touch with Elizabeth you can email [email protected] or for more information visit - https://elizabethroddick.com Image: Picture showing Elizabeth standing in her pharmacy, dressed in her white pharmacist coat and a colourful bandana around her neck, she's smiling warmly at the camera with her hands slightly raised.

Marvel fans assemble! RNIB Connect Radio's Robert Kirkwood spoke with executive producer Sana Amanat and showrunner and executive producer Dario Scardapane about accessibility, keeping up with the MCU and Daredevil's new suit in Daredevil: Born Again.Blinded as a child, Matt Murdock works as a lawyer by day and a vigilante by night. Season 2 of the show is now streaming on Disney+ with the all important audio description.Image shows the lead character of the show. He's sitting in an American diner in a smart suit and dark shaded glasses.

Finally in our coverage, Hubert spoke to RNIB's very own Robin Spinks following his AI presentation.

Sarah and Nina chat to Hubert in this podcast about their workshop, and we find out more about what the Insight Network actually is.

Hubert also went to some workshops at the the lived experience conference, one of them, was technology based, regarding accessibility challenges and solutions, and a bit of AI of course. He spoke to the organisers of the workshop afterwards.

Hubert catches up with inspirational speaker Nick Elston after he gave his presenation to kick off day 2 of the conference.

In this episode, you can find out what thoughts people who attended the first day of the conference have had, and what they were looking forward to in regards to day 2 of the event.

In this episode of guide dog blogs, we welcome back Gary once more to tell us about his newest K9 friend Chip who he has been starting a new partnership with. We find out a lot about him, and how he can chill out when needed, but we find out what work skills he shows off when he's guiding.

On Guide dog blogs this time, Hubert once again chats to Gary Mazin, this time about his second guide dog Herbie.

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter.Audio described shows and events included:Romeo & Juliet - Saturday 18 April, 2.30pm, Harold Pinter Theatre, LondonTeeth ‘N’ Smiles - Tuesday 21 April, 7.30pm, duke of York’s Theatre, London The Bodyguard - Thursday 23 April, 2pm, touch tour 12.30pm, Mayflower Theatre, SouthamptonWaitress - Friday 24 April, 7.30pm, touch tour 5.30pm, new Victoria Theatre, Woking,English touring Opera - The Gondoliers - Saturday 25 April, 7.30pm, Norwich Theatre RoyalMAMMA MIA! - Thursday 30 April, 2.30pm, Winter Gardens, Blackpool Opera House. To find out more about these and other up-coming described arts events as well as details on how to sign up to the regular VocalEyes What’s On email newsletter do visit - https://vocaleyes.co.uk(Image shows the VocalEyes logo. A speech bubble with 'VOCALEYES' written in bold black letters next to it)

With Easter just around the corner here on RNIB Connect Radio we thought it would be a good time to chat with our friends from Torch Trust, the Christian Sight Loss charity, to find out more about what they are able to offer to blind and partially sighted people of all ages who might be looking for an accessible Bible, Bible reading notes, Christian books and magazines plus much more too. Sarah Dawkins, Chief Executive of Torch Trust, firstly gives RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey an overview of their services for blind and partially sighted people including their Lambs Project - cuddly Lambs that play Bible stories for young visually impaired people, their extensive library of accessible Bibles, Christian books and resources available a range of formats for all ages. To find out more about Torch Trust, the Lambs Project, their accessible library and much more do visit - https://www.torchtrust.orgDon’t forget you can catch ‘Reflections’ Torch Trust’s radio show focusing on disability and faith in today’s world on RNIB Connect Radio every Sunday at 9am.(Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font)

Following on from the recent news reports about shortages of medications such as Co-codamol 30/500 For this week’s check-in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick it is all about what to do when there are shortages of medications.Elizabeth began by explaining to RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey about what we should do if we have problems getting our medicines. Then to whether it is possible to buy cocodamol over the counter and can your GP change your prescription to something that is more widely available when there are shortages to medication such as cocodamol.Elizabeth ended by outlining what happens in the Pharmacy when your medication is not available and why it is good to get to know our pharmacist and the Pharmacy staff as they can help in so many ways including when there are shortages of certain medications.To get in touch with Elizabeth you can email [email protected] or for more information visit - https://elizabethroddick.comImage: Picture showing Elizabeth standing in her pharmacy, dressed in her white pharmacist coat and a colourful bandana around her neck, she's smiling warmly at the camera with her hands slightly raised.

In our sight loss story this week, Hubert chats with Dominick about his journey, and his love of gaming. You can also hear an extended version of our chat with him by searching for RNIB Tech Talk in your favourite podcast app.

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter.Audio described shows and events included:The Play That Goes Wrong - Sunday 22 March, 3pm, touch tour 1.45pm, The Duchesss Theatre, Aldwych, LondonEvening All Afternoon - Saturday 28 March, 2.30pm,, Donmar Warehouse, LondonJersey Boys - Tuesday 7 April, 7.3pm, touch tour 6pm, Marlowe Theatre, CanterburyTuesday 21 April, 7.30pm, touch tour 6pm, Curve Theatre, LeicesterBlood Brothers - Wednesday 15 April, 7.30pm, Bournemouth PavilionThe Woman in Black - Wednesday 15 April, 2.30pm, touch tour 1.30pm, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, GuildfordPriscilla Queen of the Desert - Saturday 25 April, 2.30pm Wales Millennium Centre, CardiffTo find out more about these and other up-coming described arts events as well as details on how to sign up to the regular VocalEyes What’s On email newsletter do visit - https://vocaleyes.co.uk(Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font)

Phil Harrison is registered blind and at the end of April will run his first ever marathon as he takes on the 2026 London Marathon with his guide runner for Team RNIB. Phil spoke to RNIB Connect Radio about this exciting challenge alongside film-maker Reuben Armstrong, who has created an amazing documentary 'An Exercise in Perspective' about Phil's journey. Watch the documentary and support Phil here: Reuben & CoImage shows a fisheye camera angle points back at Phil as he runs. He is an older white man wearing dark sunglasses. His surrounding environment is a blur of motion. His bright orange vest reads ‘blind runner’ in bold capitals, the only part of the image coloured in with a scruffy marker pen. The whole image is treated with a punk-inspired, black and white photocopy texture.