“People judge before they stand back and think, you know, there might be another reason for, for a person behaving the way that they do.”

Peta Hooke interviews Helle about Pome disease and some of the everyday challenges Helle faces from getting dressed, to speaking to getting around.

Pompe disease is a rare, inherited, and without treatment, often fatal muscular disorder. Pompe Disease is caused by a deficiency or total lack of the enzyme acid alpha glucosidase. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down excess glycogen which normally accumulates in the muscles.

For more information about Pompe disease, please visit https://australianpompe.org.au/find-out-more/

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them. It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities.

A big thank you to Peta Hooke for conducting the interviews with compassion and respect and to Sandee Facy for the beautiful Sunflower song. You can follow Peta's I can't stand podcast here and Sandee Facy's music here.

If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Discover the vital role of the pituitary gland and its impact on our health with Gretchen Jordan, Associate Director of the Cushing Support and Research Foundation. Gretchen shares her compelling personal journey with Cushing's disease from diagnosis to advocacy. This episode uncovers the critical functions of cortisol and the often-overlooked symptoms of this rare condition, emphasising the need for greater awareness and early diagnosis.

Learn how non-specific symptoms like weight gain, high blood pressure, and emotional instability complicate the diagnosis of Cushing's disease. We discuss the importance of recognising these symptoms early to improve quality of life and reduce the risk of severe complications.


If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• Cushing's Support and Research Foundation
• World Alliance of Pituitary Organisations
• The Pituitary Foundation UK

Hosted by Chantal Boyle and Lynn Smith, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

“My brain is having to put in a lot of coping mechanisms to be able to just be in that space or in that place.”

Peta Hooke interviews Isabella about intersectionality in youth, disability and mental health. Isabella (Belle) identifies as a neurodivergent (autistic & ADHD) Greek (CALD) queer/asexual empath with binge eating disorder (BED), learning and psychosocial (permanent & ongoing anxiety & depression) disabilities.

Belle chats about challenges caused by general misunderstandings, and how the Sunflower can help. Belle is a passionate advocate and has a blog well worth subscribing to, https://www.divergents.info/publications.

Mental Health: If you’re going through a hard time right now, the Beyond Blue Support Service is available 24/7 for brief counselling. Call a counsellor on 1300 22 4636 or chat to a counsellor online here www.beyondblue.org.au

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them. It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities.

A big thank you to Peta Hooke for conducting the interviews with compassion and respect and to Sandee Facy for the beautiful Sunflower song. You can follow Peta's I can't stand podcast here and Sandee Facy's music here.

If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Language warning: Strong language used in this podcast.

Content Warning: Please be advised that this episode contains strong language and discusses suicide.

Tourette Syndrome (Tourette's) is a neurological condition that causes individuals to make involuntary vocal noises and movements called tics. Swearing or saying inappropriate things only affects 10% of people with Tourette's. For more information about Tourette's Syndrome, please visit here.

This month, our Sunflower Conversations Podcaster in Australia and New Zealand, Peta Hooke, interviews Leighton (Uncle Tics) from New Zealand about Tourette's Syndrome. Leighton discusses his experience with public opinion, employment opportunities and having the courage to try new things.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them. It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities.

A big thank you to Peta Hooke for conducting the interviews with compassion and respect and to Sandee Facy for the beautiful Sunflower song. You can follow Peta's I can't stand podcast here and Sandee Facy's music here.

If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.

This month, our Sunflower Conversations Podcaster in Australia and New Zealand, Peta Hooke, interviews Alana talking about schizoaffective disorder, a combination of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Alana discusses her experience with hallucinations and multi-sensory delusion, and how the Sunflower can help in employment and education environments.

Schizoaffective disorder is a combination of two mental illnesses – schizophrenia and a mood disorder. The main types of associated mood disorder include bipolar disorder (characterised by manic episodes or an alternation of manic and depressive episodes) and unipolar disorder (characterised by depressive episodes). For more information, please visit here.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them. It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities.

A big thank you to Peta Hooke for conducting the interviews with compassion and respect and to Sandee Facy for the beautiful Sunflower song. You can follow Peta's I can't stand podcast here and Sandee Facy's music here.

If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.

Martin Cornally shares his experience of the rare pituitary disease called acromegaly. Hear firsthand how a pituitary tumour led to excessive production of growth hormone, causing severe physical changes, including osteoarthritis. Despite undergoing two surgeries, Martin continues to fight this chronic and life-long condition, shedding light on the crucial need for early diagnosis and increased awareness among medical professionals.

Explore the differences between acromegaly and gigantism, conditions that, though related, manifest at different stages of life. We discuss this rare disease's emotional, physical, and financial impacts, highlighting the importance of recognising subtle symptoms early on. Martin's symptoms include severe headaches, significant weight gain, and enlarged organs, which underlines the challenging journey of living with acromegaly and the importance of timely, accurate diagnoses.

In this episode, we also delve into the broader challenges of invisible disabilities, and co-host Scott shares how he has coped with having multiple brain aneurysms.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• World Alliance of Pituitary Organisations
• The Pituitary Foundation Ireland
• The Pituitary Foundation UK

Hosted by Chantal Boyle and Scott Casson-Rennie, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

Our guest is Rachel Bilski from the charity PTSD UK. PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is typically associated with veterans. However, it isn't only veterans who can develop it – And Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, CPTSD, is less well known and, therefore, can take longer to diagnose.

Rachel's lived experiences of CPTSD contribute to her work as a lecturer and supervisor for the Minded Institute for Yoga Therapy Training Institute. We put your questions to Rachel during this conversation and learned about the differences and nuances between PTSD and CPTSD.

We look into the complexities of emotional flashbacks and the varied manifestations of symptoms that can profoundly impact daily life.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• PTSD UK
• Paul's blog (RE "brave")
• Rachel Bilski's blog (emotional flashbacks)
• Down to Earth Yoga Therapy

Hosted by Chantal Boyle and Paul Shriever, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

This month, our Sunflower Conversations Podcaster, Peta Hooke, interviews Althea, talking about ADHD and Autism.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them.

It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them. It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities.

A big thank you to Peta Hooke for conducting the interviews with compassion and respect and to Sandee Facy for the beautiful Sunflower song. You can follow Peta's I can't stand podcast here and Sandee Facy's music here.

If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com