RNIB Conversations

Are you interested about how puppies get trained to be able to be a guide dog? Well, in this podcast we get a little look at that as we find out how a group of puppies got on when they visited a theatre play.

Three of Northern Ireland’s most compelling Vision impaired artists — Joe Kenny, Andrea Begley, and Future Her — join forces for Label Me Live, an exclusive one‑night event taking place at The Black Box, Belfast as part of the Bounce Arts Festival, presented by University of Atypical. Barry caught up with Joe Kenny, who is the gigs organiser

The Accessible Book and Story Festival is coming to Edinburgh on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th of September. If you’re curious to learn how books and stories can be made fun and engaging for children with additional needs, then you might want to check it out. RNIB Connect Radio's Paulina Kuchorew spoke with Ailie Finlay Director of My Kind Of Book, who are organising the event, to learn more. For more details visit: Accessible Book & Story Festival 2026 - My Kind of Book Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white and black background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font.

It might be true that many of us may not get enough sleep as we should each night so for this week’s check in with Glasgow Based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick it is all about sleep. Elizabeth began by explaining to RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey why sleep is so important for us all, thinking about the best time to get to sleep and how much sleep we might need a night too. Then to whether taking naps during the day are a good thing or not. Ending with a reminder from Elizabeth about heat exhaustion following on from all the recent heat waves and high temperatures that we have had over the summer which may have caused people to not get enough sleep too. To get in touch with Elizabeth you can email info@elizabethroddick.com 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.

In our Sight Loss Story this week, Hubert chats to George Bunge from South Africa. They discuss his sight loss journey, being blind and partially sighted in South Africa and gaming.

Hubert chats to Ross from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, to find out about improvements to the quality of passenger assistance across 28 UK airports.

In this episode, Hubert chats to Adam about his sight loss journey. They discuss how he adapted to life with sight loss, and his passion for drama and his work with the drama group he is involved with.

For many Guide Dog owners unfair, and unlawful, access refusals can be upsetting and embarrassing. Guide Dogs, along with other charity partners, are working to educate service providers, as well as supporting owners to make complaints about their unfair treatment. Allan Russell spoke to Andy Farrell, from Guide Dogs, to learn more about refusals, what owners can do about them and how an app has become another tool in the box. Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white and black background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font.

Edinburgh International Festival is on at the moment, bringing best artists from opera, music, theatre & dance to the city. And today we’re looking at an upcoming audio described performance of Verdi’s A Masked Ball. From Zurich Opera, Guisseppe Verdi’s stunning opera is filled with desire, treachery and political peril. Let’s learn more about this production and how to catch it from audio describers Veronica Kinahan and Trina Gilles. More about the show: Verdi’s A Masked Ball | Edinburgh International Festival Image shows a scene from the production. A shocked crowd is gathered around a fortune teller and her crystal ball.

Did you know that only around 1 in 4 blind or partially sighted people of working age are in employment? Today, we're chatting with Emmy Anstee about her experience of Royal & Derngate's Step-Up programme which saw her join them for a work placement. She spoke with Happy Hour's Paulina Kuchorew about the importance of placements like these and how it was adjusted to work with her sight condition. Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white and black background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font.

In this sight loss story, Hubert chats to William. They discuss his sight and hearing loss, but they also talk about his passion for music, and how he enjoyes attending concerts and festivals. He also describes the work he does to make these events more accessible.

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: Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail : Audio Descriptions Oresteia - Saturday 22 August, 1.30pm, touch tour 11.30am, Bridge Theatre, London Now You See Me Live - Wednesday 2 September, 7pm, London Coliseum Cats - Saturday 5 September, 2pm, touch tour 12.15pm, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London Northern Ballet’s Gentleman Jack - Saturday 5 September, 2.30pm, touch tour 12.15pm, Alhambra Theatre, Bradford 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)

For this week’s check in with Glasgow Based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick we are returning to the topic of medicine waste as Elizabeth shares some new data with RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey suggesting how much medicine is wasted. Then to the cost implications of the waste and some of the reasons why so much medicine is wasted. To what happens to un-opened medicine packs when we take them back to the Pharmacy and why it is better to give money to charities rather than donating medicines. Ending with a final message from Elizabeth around medicine waste. To get in touch with Elizabeth you can email info@elizabethroddick.com 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.

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 Guilty - Saturday 8 August, 2.30pm, touch tour 1pm, Donmar Warehouse, London TAO of Glass - Saturday 15 August, 2.30pm and Thursday 3 September, 7.30pm, @Soho Place, London Barnum - Saturday 22 August, 2.30pm, touch tour 1pm, The Arts Theatre, Cambridge Arcadia - Saturday 29 August, 1.30pm, Duke of York’s Theatre, London Audio Described Tour of the house at Chartwell - Tuesday 1 September, 3pm, Westerham 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)

For this week’s check in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick it is all about new blood tests for certain forms of cancer. Elizabeth began by explaining to RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey about the availability of these new blood tests including the one for prostate cancer. Then to the importance of testing for bowel cancer and finally as Elizabeth is keen for people to keep up their levels of vitamin D some details of tests for that too. To get in touch with Elizabeth you can email info@elizabethroddick.com 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.

With many people about to go off on their summer holidays, for this week’s check-in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick it is all about being prepared for your travels around the medicines that you take regularly and what might be good to take with you just in case of an emergency.. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey began by asking Elizabeth whether it is possible to pre order your medicines in preparation for going on holiday. Then to what about taking medicines into hot countries and a reminder about the rules about carrying liquid medicines when travelling. To finally some tips from Elizabeth on what to take on holiday in case of an emergency. To get in touch with Elizabeth you can email info@elizabethroddick.com 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.

Trying a new experience whilst on holiday can be exhilarating, especially when you get a chance to become a gladiator. RNIB Connect Radio's Paulina Kuchorew spoke with Emmy Anstee from Emmy's VIP Life to hear what she thought of the Gladiator School Experience in Rome and how it was adapted to her needs. For more about the experience visit: GLADIATOR SCHOOL - romegladiatorschool Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white and black background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font.

Following Jimmy Valentine is a full-cast audiobook musical told entirely through story and song created by New York composer and writer Jeff Flaster. It features a star-studded west end cast, including Celinde Schoenmaker (Phantom of the Opera), Hadley Fraser, David Hunter, George Blagden, acclaimed jazz vocalist Jacqui Dankworth, and Kerry Ellis who you might recognise for her portrayal of Elphaba in Wicked and Fantine in Les Mis. The audiobook musical tells the story of Detective Jen Price, who desperate to feel like a hero again, pursues notorious jewel thief Jimmy Valentine. But when Jimmy falls for Annabel he changes his tune. But Is it too late? RNIB Connect Radio's Paulina Kuchorew learned more from West End star Kerry Ellis and the man behind this audiobook Jeff Flaster. Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white and black background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font.

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 Bodyguard the Musical - Saturday 25 July, 2.30pm, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Six The Musical - Sunday 26 July, 3pm, Vaudeville Theatre, London To Kill a Mockingbird - Saturday 1 August, 2.30pm, touch tour 12.30pm, Wyndham’s Theatre, London Dog Man: The Musical - Tuesday 11 August, 2.30pm, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London 9 to 5 The Musical - Wednesday 19 August, 7.30pm, Regent Theatre, Ipswich 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)

We’re take a look today about at an exciting new documentary now available on streaming services in the UK. Possibilities made by American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and BeachGlass Films and is a collaborative production between blind and sighted individuals, which features open audio description, an innovative concept that means accessibility is part of the process of making the movie and not just an after-thought. And joining our Paulina Kuchorew is Tony Stephens, Assistant Vice President for Communications at the American Foundation for the Blind and the Producer behind the movie. Image shows The Possibilities documentary logo, a white cane with a rippling tap substitutes the letter I.