The Way We Roll
A seriously funny take on life from the disability driven duo... Simon Minty and Phil Friend.
Episodes
109 episodes
Keep Making Change - Euan’s Guide and Abbi Brown
We were very sorry to hear of the recent passing of Euan MacDonald MBE. Among Euan’s many achievements was the creation of Euan’s Guide, the award-winning disabled access charity. Perhaps best known for the disabled access review website EuansG...
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48:07
We don't want Purple Washing - Stephane Leblois, The Valuable 500
Since its launch in 2019, the Valuable 500 has signed up more than five hundred senior executives from worldwide companies and organisations to put disability on the board agenda. So far, so pretty good. But as the Valuable 500 matures, it is n...
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45:44
Getting the partnership right and being bold: Alice Maynard CBE DBA and Richard Hawkes OBE
Our guests this month are Alice Maynard and Richard Hawkes, formerly of Scope, a leading disability charity in the UK. In 2010, Alice became Chair, and shortly after, Richard joined as Chief Executive Officer. During their time lea...
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53:06
It hurts my head and saddens my heart - NHS, disability and being trapped in your own flat
Phil speaks of his disheartening recent experiences at A&E at his local NHS hospital. We grapple with the oh-so-simple task of trying to make the NHS better, as it feels like it’s broken, and how that can break us. A previous gu...
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45:42
Suzanne Bull: Live Music, Breast Cancer and me.
If we’re lucky in life, we might find a role that makes sense to us and makes a difference to others. Our guest this month has achieved that and more. A huge music fan, especially of live music, and a disabled person who’d experienced bar...
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43:40
U.N.ited We Fail and PIP PIP away
We’ve had a show like this before, where we ask what the UK government are doing when it comes to disability and why now. We’re not sure they know what they are doing. PM Rishi Sunak has ‘started a conversation’ on reviewing Persona...
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45:56
Disability and Shame
Admitting shame is a tough thing to do. Perhaps as complex as the shameful experience itself? Clearly, it is not unique to disabled people. Is there something more with us? An additional new perceived weakness, or from internalised ableism, it ...
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52:43
Being Noisy: Effective campaigning and Assisted Dying / Suicide latest
Bristol City Council recently reversed their planned cost-cutting strategy, which would have impacted independent living for disabled people. The UK government recently reversed the proposed closure of ticket offices at railway stations, which ...
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45:04
Not once but twice: losing independent living.
How would you feel if your local authority suggested you move from your home of 30 years to a residential care home because they need to save money? It's something Bristol City Council were proposing for disabled people as they try to reduce th...
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56:52
Talking Loud and Clear: Accessible and Inclusive Communications
‘Know your audience and communicate to as many people as you can, including disabled people’, says Sarah Brown Fraser on effective, accessible communication. That Sarah can whittle information down to valuable nuggets might be a consequence of ...
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51:53
Under the Hood with Andrew Miller CEO: Navigating Motability's Road Ahead
Our guest is Andrew Miller, the Chief Executive Officer of Motability Operations (MO). Many of you will know of this unique organisation. Indeed, some of you will be customers. The Motability Scheme leases cars, powered wheelchairs...
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58:46
Losing Autonomy + It Takes More Than Adjustments + Purple Pound
Simon was at the airport recently. He was on his mobility scooter, and his mum was using an airport wheelchair. Looking at the long line in the disabled passport queue, his walkie-talkie sister and cousin decided to move to the non-disabled lin...
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55:15
Disability Confident but Don’t Assume
They say you shouldn’t kick a person when they’re down. It feels right now the UK Government are down. And unfortunately for them, Phil and Simon have found more reasons why they deserve maybe not a kick but a strong toe poke. <...
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45:57
7 Daily Hurdles, UN Snubs, and Personal Journeys
Forbes Online posted an article which showed the 7 things disabled people have to think about, which non-disabled types don’t have to. Simon thinks it’s informative and helpful, like an access rider. Phil bemoans why we still need to tell peopl...
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1:03:17
Motorbikes, Memoirs, and Making Waves: Sophie Morgan Unplugged
In an exceptional show, our guest is the remarkable human that is Sophie Morgan. Sophie often finds liberation on a motorbike. She pops up frequently on TV, presenting Crufts or the Paralympics as a guest on Loose Women or breakfast TV. This pa...
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57:56
‘Failing upwards’ and ‘Able-anxiety’ with FlawBored Theatre Company
Can you fail upwards? Aarian Mehrabani from FlawBored Theatre says that is what they have done. With his theatre company co-founders Samuel Brewer and Chloe Palmer, they have created a play that pushes the boundaries of disability arts and arts...
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44:42
When is the word ‘vulnerable’ the right word? Plus celebrating Lenny Rush
A bumper show this month. There’s an underlying theme around the erosion or optionality of including disabled people. What do you do when you’re hotel room isn’t ready…especially when you return to the hotel after a night out at mid...
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47:56
If disability is so good, why don’t we all become disabled?
Disability talk and debate: what might be the consequences of how we talked about being disabled, reducing benefit fraud, the impact of the digital divide and street harassment, all discussed by Phil and Simon? What are your thought...
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40:42
From Croissants to Controversies: Phil & Simon's Tasty Take on Disability Classics
Three disability classics in this months show. It’s Phil and Simon debating and exploring. Firstly an independent American short film highlights how to ask for help as a disabled person and how best other people can offer it. Called...
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51:56
Are we looking at disability through the wrong lens?
Peter Torres Fremlin joins us this month. He’s a prolific writer and journalist, specifically the Disability Debrief which is a newsletter reporting on disability news from around the world ...
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1:00:22
Give me a child until she is seven and I will show you the adult. Our guest is Ruth Owen
Dr Ruth Owen OBE started in the tech industry, then became CEO of Whizz-Kidz, a national children’s disability charity. Two years ago, Ruth accepted a demanding and, some consider, contentious role, becoming CEO of one of the big disability cha...
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46:50
Gym Gains and Grandchildren: Navigating Life's Highs and Lows
Welcome to the first show of 2023, where Phil and Simon are ready to serve up the year's hot topics! In this episode, we'll discuss everything from the highs and lows of 2022 to the exciting things on the horizon for 2023.First up, we'l...
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49:56
Networkologist with a splash of Purple Obstinacity
Creating change in the world of disability takes many skills. One perhaps less recognised is finding the right word for the right moment. Our guest this month is adept at this and would give Gyles Brandreth a run for his money. Kat...
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51:13
Strictly Right or Wrong / Not All Disabilities Are INvisible
Phil and Simon are ripping it up, pushing the conversation, and exploring the boundaries of where we are today when it comes to disability. There’s fun, seriousness, thoughtfulness, respectful disagreement, celebration and controversyWe ...
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49:58
A history of disability activism and disabled people in politics
Professor David Turner is a social and cultural historian with expertise in disability, medicine, gender and the body. He is our guest this month. David’s current research explores the history of disabled people’s political activis...
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51:02