I’ve curated (or should I say ‘prescribed’) a selection of seven podcasts that cover different conditions. Whether you’re personally affected by an invisible disability or know someone who is, these shows serve to raise awareness and cultivate understanding.

Invisibly Ill

In 2023, three Kiwi women in their thirties started a podcast on the ups and downs of their respective experiences with invisible illnesses simply because they couldn’t find one. And in fact, there aren’t a lot of shows out there that don’t focus on one specific disability, or that aren’t affiliated with charities or support groups, which is why I think this is an ideal starting point for anyone seeking understanding and connection in their journey. Laura, Jenny, and Maeghan cope with separate illnesses (post-surgery chronic back pain, GERD, and triple-positive breast cancer), but what is great is that they always find common ground in the challenges they face daily. From diagnosis to recovery and coping with side effects, they openly share personal stories and mental health updates, creating a safe space through sometimes hopeful, sometimes raw talk. If you’ve ever heard the dismissive phrase ‘but you don’t look sick’, or any of its variables (‘it’s all in your mind’ and ‘you’re probably just stressed’ being strong contenders), you’ll love this as much as I do. Listen now >>

The Sick Gaze

Healthcare can pose extra challenges for women, particularly those with chronic illnesses. That’s precisely why we need more podcasts like The Sick Gaze, which explores how long-lasting invisible disorders affect women’s well-being, relationships, and self-identity. The cover art is what first drew me in—because it literally is just that: art. The more I look at it, the more it reminds me of a pop art, female version of Edward’s Munch ‘The Scream’. The title of this show is inspired by Laura Mulvey’s feminist concept of male gaze, which I also think is brilliant. Hosted by Molly Dickerson, a student in Public Health and Medical Humanities, the show centres mostly on young people and opts for interviews over casual conversations. This podcast advocates for a fairer healthcare system by tackling not just gender but also racial disparities, another issue that is unfortunately frequently overlooked. I thought the ‘Hear Black Women!’ episode was a powerful and very important account on that topic. Listen now >>

The Neurodivergent Woman

About 15-20% of people are neurodivergent, so there is a good chance you might know someone who is. Michelle Livock, a clinical neuropsychologist, and Monique Mitchelson, a (neurodivergent!) clinical psychologist, reached a pivotal moment in their careers when they recognized the disparity between the high number of patients seeking their assistance for neurodivergence and the limited education they had received on the matter. When I listened to the first episode of the podcast, I found this take very refreshing, as it’s something of a rarity to witness health professionals openly acknowledge their limitations. I truly believe anyone who goes out of their way to learn something because they’re genuinely curious about it is likely to be great at passing on that knowledge in a way that will actually stick to your brain. There is evidence that women are more likely to be misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed for neurodivergence, and Michelle and Monique focus on bridging the gender gap by helping women to embrace their brain’s distinct wiring rather than feeling constrained by it. From Autism to ADHD and beyond, they delve into topics like identification, sensory regulation, education and expression. Listen now >>

Lessons in Dyslexic Thinking

Who said people with learning disabilities couldn’t be some of the smartest in their field? Dyslexia is often portrayed in a negative light, and it’s a real shame that we don’t hear as much about the unique strengths that come with dyslexic thinking. Lateral thinking. Visual memory. A knack for creative problem-solving. All things I could use more of, to be honest. Hosted by Kate Griggs, the founder of global charity Made By Dyslexia, Lessons in Dyslexic Thinking explores how dyslexic thinking can be harnessed to bring about positive change in our world, offering an uplifting perspective on this invisible disability. In every episode, Kate interviews accomplished individuals spanning a wide array of fields, ranging from chefs and make-up artists to CEOs and celebrities you might not have known were dyslexic, like Hollywood actor Michael Provost. One of the first episodes even focuses on how UK intelligence agencies use dyslexic thinking to protect the country! Need I say more? Listen now >>

A Bipolar, a Schizophrenic and a Podcast

A winning combination indeed! Just as the podcast title suggests, Gabe grapples with bipolar disorder while Michelle battles schizophrenia. On paper, this already sounds like an explosive cocktail personality-wise. But just wait until you hear Gabe and Michelle tease each other for 40 minutes straight. The two have known each other IRL for a long time, so together, they have the type of ‘frenemies’ banter (their words, not mine) that’s sure to keep you laughing. If you’re anything like me and serious discussions about difficult topics tend to exacerbate your pre-existing worries, this show is for you. The high energy and sense of humour brought by the co-hosts really balances out the gravity of the matters being tackled. Both of them are champions for mental health awareness on and off the mic, so they are also very knowledgeable and encouraging. You can really tell they have been doing this weekly podcast for many years—if you want to dig up the first seasons, you’ll find them tucked away in their website’s archive section! Listen now>>

CUTI

We’re all familiar with UTIs, but what about chronic UTIs? CUTI is a narrative, short podcast about Chronic Urinary Tract Infections, an illness predominantly affecting women that is often misconstrued or questioned by medical practitioners due to its recent acknowledgment. First of all, it’s really rare to find health podcasts that aren’t conversational. CUTI has a mix of heartfelt patient’s accounts, pretty ground-breaking expert insights considering how under the radar this disease is, and well-written scripted voiceover. I don’t have any links with the topic, and yet that storytelling element dragged me from the first episode, and I found myself wanting to learn more about this condition. Not only does this series underscore the misconceptions surrounding chronic UTIs, but it also addresses the significant waste of time and energy resulting from them, between misdiagnoses, dismissive treatment, and delayed recognition—an endless cycle that anyone with an invisible disease can relate to (yes, we’re all traumatized). Listen now >>

This Podcast Will Kill You

Ever wished to delve into the historical backdrop of a disease and unravel how it shapes our current understanding of it? If you’re a science nerd, or even a history nerd, you’re bound to love This Podcast Will Kill You. While not exclusively focused on invisible illnesses, this conversational podcast features numerous episodes addressing conditions like long COVID, vision impairment or lupus—lesser-known/more ‘recent’ diseases your GP might not be so knowledgeable about. Each episode of this show kicks off with a firsthand account from a patient and concludes with an exploration of the current global status of the disease and promising new treatments, ending on a positive note. Co-hosts Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke, both accomplished scientists, do a fantastic job at making medical research accessible, and even manage to sprinkle some humour along the way. When I first listened to the podcast, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities in dynamic and format with iHeart’s Stuff You Missed in History Class, and that’s a compliment because it’s one of the first podcasts I fell in love with. Listen now >>

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Eloïse Bertil is an emerging French-English bilingual podcast producer, marketer and writer from Reunion Island, now based in London.

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JR: At the age of 14 Gigi Robinson was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, but Gigi has used her experience to develop her skills in podcasting. Everything You Need Is Within is a masterclass in how to turn adversity into advocacy.

GR: The idea was conceived in late 2020, it was based on a conversation I had with Julia Michaels on Instagram Live. The subject was being an artist and dealing with mental health, not only online but also in our creative work. I decided that it’d be really cool to interview creators from all different backgrounds and give my platform to people who wanted to get their mission out there into the world. The show was then picked up by Spotify Live and I was with them for a year and a half which was incredible and really helped grow the podcast.

With a varied career ranging from being a finalist in the Sports Illustrated Swim Search to being a champion of issues such as chronic illness and body positivity – how does Gigi manage to keep balanced?

Dealing with a chronic illness on top of working as a content creator can definitely be challenging, especially when I’m spending 15 to 30 minutes on the phone with a doctor just trying to set up an appointment. Managing so many different things is definitely a big challenge, but thanks to a huge team and other people behind the scenes we’re able to really create a content machine, which doesn’t leave me as burnt out as I once was. If you do want to scale up, I think it’s really important to balance and delegate tasks to different people so that you can maximise your productivity. I have things that help me stay on track but I’m still a work in progress! I also spend at least two to three hours on virtual appointments during the week and two to three hours on commuting, all of which combined probably equates to a part time job.

Everything You Need Is Within hosts conversations based around social advocacy, including mental and physical health, leadership, and much more.

A big subject that I love talking about on the show is, of course, disability and accessibility online, so that we can work towards levelling the playing field for everyone. Some of my favourite subjects I’ve touched on include pay transparency, which always needs more highlighting, as well as internet activism and advocacy. I think there are ways to implement social media literacy into everyone’s work and make sure that people are really taking responsibility for platforms if they have them.

Season 4 is right around the corner…

The future of Everything You Need is Within is definitely bright; I think we have a really solid pilot series to pitch for a live talk show and hopefully work our way up not only within the podcast space but into the talk show space as well and bridge the gap between what it means to be a host in these spaces. I would say that anybody who is interested in learning about social media literacy should definitely listen to some of our episodes and make sure that they’re being intentional every time they use social media. And last but not least, always be kind online.

Gigi Robinson is an advocate for The Jed Foundation – looking after emotional health and suicide prevention.

Listen to Everything You Need Is Within on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps >>

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Whilst Pride Month is now widely covered and celebrated, Disability Pride doesn’t get anywhere near the attention and support it deserves (yet). So, for those of you interested in hearing from disabled creatives about their experiences (either to learn more, support friends or family, or those like me that just crave representation), I’ve compiled a list of some disabled podcasts I think you should be listening to beyond Disability Pride Month. There are definitely more that I haven’t discovered yet so either comment your favourites, or get in touch with me with recommendations!

Equal Too: Achieving Disability Equality

Hosted by Sophie Morgan (one of the first female wheelchair-user television hosts in the world) and produced by the creators of double Emmy Award winning documentary Rising Phoenix, this six-part series explores the Paralympic Movement and activism to transform the world for those that do – and do not – have a disability. Talking to informed professionals, and those with a large platform, this podcast explores the reality of being disabled in modern day. Not only is this made by disabled creators, for disabled people, they have also made it as accessible as possible  – a small thing that many seem to forget about. A transcript is available for each episode, along with captioned video recording and BSL signed versions. There are episodes on everything you might be interested in: the Paralympics itself; the rights of disabled people and how they are changing; the fashion and film industries. My personal favourite episode looked at how inaccessible the modern world has been built. Listen on your podcast app >>

The Neurodivergent Woman

Disability is more than just wheelchairs and walking sticks. Many neurodivergent (ND) people class themselves as disabled (myself included) and many also have co-concurrent disabilities and chronic illnesses such as Fibromyalgia, M.E, epilepsy, or intellectual disabilities. The Neurodivergent Woman is perfect for those that identify as women, and those that want to support the ND women in their lives more. It explores many aspects, such as the fact that ADHD and autism are substantially underdiagnosed in women (the diagnostic criteria was designed around men) and the lack of support and understanding for women. It’s hosted by clinical psychologist Monique Mitchelson and clinical neuropsychologist Michelle Livock, both of whom identify as neurodivergent themselves. They bring their own experiences and their medical understanding, but they also interview countless guests to educate and inspire their audience to think differently about themselves and the world around them. Listen on your podcast app >>

Chronic Illness And Me

Of the over-26-million people in the UK, around 10 million have two or more chronic illnesses or Long Term Conditions. With such a substantial amount of people, you’d think that there would be more open conversations about this. Luckily, Holly (@StomaBabe) hosts a gloriously honest podcast about life as a chronically ill person, and interviews other social media influencers about their experiences. From ‘Disability and Dating’ and ‘Pregnancy with a Stoma’ to specific disabilities like Crohn’s, blindness, cancer and colitis, there is something
for everyone to learn. Even as a chronically ill person myself, I know nothing about so many other illnesses but this podcast gives you the chance to learn more with all the raw details and understand the impacts of society on disabled people. Listen on your podcast app >>

Carousel Radio

Do you like good vibes? I know I do. This podcast is simply that. It is planned and presented by DJ’s and Radio presenters with learning disabilities and includes spoken word poems exclusively by artists with learning disabilities, along with radio diaries about the challenges and triumphs of daily lives, talks on accessibility, and professionals discussing employment and skills. There’s phenomenal sound design, great audio quality (something I personally struggle with when it comes to listening to podcasts) fascinating facts, and some amazing
story telling. Not only is this a banging show as is, it also won recognition for its quality with an Audio Production Award last year! So strap in and listen to Joel, Jason and Fran’s hilarious banter on this glorious 30 minute bitesize show, with over 120 episodes. Listen on your podcast app >>

The Queer Podcast

Okay, so this is a bit of a curve ball, but there is a huge intersection between queer and disabled people. The episode ‘Queer And Disabled ft. Nu’ explores this perfectly, and how multiple identities outside the ‘norm’ can cause issues for people getting through daily life. Host Ashish Sawhny learns with the audience as he interviews Nu about their trans experience. It is so refreshing to hear from queer, trans, disabled activists talking about their experience, and the ways that we can be ‘too’ queer for disabled spaces and ‘too’ disabled for queer spaces. Listener discretion is advised – the episode goes into porn and sexualisation of disabled people – but we are so often infantilised, and so hearing ‘adult’ themes is something we rarely get. Plus, both host and guest go into the social context surrounding their Indian heritage, providing some fascinating food for thought for the audience! Listen on your podcast app >>

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Mimi is a poet and playwright, exploring autism, queerness and disability through their work. They run QueerOutLoud, the South Wests Queer Creatives Network, and have spent 2023 as Young City Laureate, helping nurture the diverse voices in Plymouth’s poetry scene. Follow them on socials @MimiJMedia and @QueerOutLoud.

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Who are you and what is your podcast about?

My name is Delta and I’m a 23 year old queer and disabled person and my podcast is about exactly that: issues regarding queer and disabled communities, sometimes on a more basic level for non-queer and non-disabled listeners and sometimes I talk about some of the intracommunity issues for people who are either queer and/or disabled themselves or more familiar with these communities. Very rarely I make episodes about other things, but these are still usually through a queer and disabled lens.

What’s the first podcast you ever listened to?

I actually didn’t listen to podcasts until 2019 when my partner introduced me to the medium. The first podcast I listened to must have been either Queersplaining or The Cis Are Getting Out of Hand, two podcasts I still enjoy to this day.

Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place?

I grew up in a small village with not really any queer or disabled people around, so a few years ago my only outlet was Instagram, where I’d write small essays under pictures that I posted and quite a few people liked them. Then I moved to a different country and became even more isolated from my communities in a way, as due to my disabilities I can’t really get around town on my own, so I was online a lot. I’d write a lot of threads on Twitter, but I wanted something “more professional” I guess that wasn’t made of 15 Tweets and that would be easier to find. I also wanted something I could send to people so I wouldn’t have to explain the same things over ans over. I could just refer them to one place. I started a blog in 2020 that lasted about two months (Thanks, ADHD). Last year, I taught myself a little bit about audio editing and realised that I could just try to start a podcast. I love listening to podcasts, they’re my favourite medium, so why not make one myself? That’s how out_cast was born and it’s the one outlet that has lasted and is still filling me with joy.

Which podcasts do you take inspiration from?

I take inspiration from many podcasts that I personally listen to, but mostly the guestless episodes of Queersplaining, as well as Gender Journeys, which is the only podcast I’ve found that addresses things from *inside* trans and genderqueer communities without being an interview podcast.

Who’s your dream guest for the podcast?

I haven’t really had guests on my podcast, but I would probably like to have friends on, or many of the fellow podcasters I love listening to, like Callie Wright, Sarah and Kayla from Sounds Fake But Okay or Laura from Bad Attitudes.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as a podcaster?

It doesn’t have to be perfect. When I started podcasting, I was a big perfectionist about editing. Ironically, due to disability I sometimes struggle with speech and with putting complex thoughts and ideas into spoken words, so I will often repeat words or sentences, mumble by accidents or slur my words, or even be silent for a long time. I still edit out the silence but not so much of the other things. I am disabled so I talk like a disabled person and “perfection” isn’t something I can or even want to attain anymore, especially doing everything myself too. You don’t need a particular voice to be a podcaster.

Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast?

Probably my 30th episode titled “they asked WHAT about queer people?!” where I address misconceptions about different forms of queerness in a light-hearted way by answering questions that people frequently type into Google.

Where can the Pod Bible Readers find out more about you?

You can find my podcast @out_castpod on both Twitter and Instagram and you can find me privately @soongtypedelta on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

Listen to out_cast now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps.

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