Advertise on podcast: RNIB - Health and Wellbeing

Let's join Paulina in the kitchen as she tries out a delicious and easy cookie bar recipe. Paulina follows the recipe by Jane's Patisserie: Mini Egg Cookie Bars - Jane's PatisserieImage shows a stack of scrumptious square cookie bars with gooey mini eggs and chocolate chips. 

New collaborative work in Sunderland is looking into how smoking cessation services can be made more accessible and supportive for people living with sight loss. Joining Paulina on the Happy Hour to talk about the work and the impact it could have on the local community are Sarah Lever Head of Co-Production and Inclusion at ABL Health and Jack Moffat North East and Cumbria Engagement Manager for Thomas Pocklington Trust Sight Loss Councils.   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.

Yoga teacher Dawn Blezard returns to the Happy Hour for another Off The Matt chat. This month, freshly of her white cane training she discusses how using tools and aids can really support us in life and why we shouldn't feel embarrassed. You can find out more about Dawn by searching for "Pathway Yoga with Dawn" on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube. Dawn also has a podcast: Seeing Within Podcast.  Image shows a birds eye view photo shows Dawn holding a pose on her black yoga matt. Her legs are crossed and she holds onto her toes on either side of her body as she looks up at the camera. She has blonde hair set in two French braids and is wearing a lilac long sleeve top with patterned leggings. The yoga matt is black with high contract purple alignment lines, which are designed to help align your body and improve posture during yoga poses.

Let's join Paulina in the kitchen as she tries out a quick and spicy noodle recipe. This time around, she's making the Peanut Gochujang Chili Noodles. Paulina follows the recipe by Feel Good Foodie, which you can find here: Peanut Gochujang Chili Noodles - Herman at Home 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.

We’re focusing on Ocular Melanoma today, a rare cancer that develops inside the eye and affects a few hundred people in the UK each year. However, many are not aware of a devastating consequence of the condition as it can spread to the liver, in which case treatment options become extremely limited and expensive. At a recent Parliamentary Reception, Ocular Melanoma UK, The only UK organisation dedicated solely to supporting those affected by ocular melanoma, brought together MPs, clinicians and patients to highlight delays and inequities in access to care. We’re joined now by Jo Gumbs from Ocular Melanoma UK, as well as Carol Player and Jamie Scott, who will share their experience of living with the condition and the effects it had on their lives.  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.

Receiving a sight loss diagnosis can be a difficult and confusing time, often leaving patients without emotional support.  Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust wants to change that by improving provisions of psychological support for patients following an eye condition diagnosis.  Joining Paulina on the Happy Hour is Charlie Evans, Assistant Psychologist at St Mary's Hospital and part of the team working on this important work. To get in touch with the team and share your experience, email [email protected] or call 0203 311 3322 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.

Let's join Paulina in the kitchen as she tries out that viral baked feta pasta. Paulina follows the recipe by Feel Good Foodie, which you can find here: Baked Feta Pasta {With Cherry Tomatoes} - Feel Good Foodie 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.

Yoga teacher Dawn Blezard returns to the Happy Hour to chat how to not give into the pressure of a perfect Valentine's Day. Plus, Paulina has a bit of homework for you. You can find out more about Dawn by searching for "Pathway Yoga with Dawn" on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube. Image shows a birds eye view photo shows Dawn holding a pose on her black yoga matt. Her legs are crossed and she holds onto her toes on either side of her body as she looks up at the camera. She has blonde hair set in two French braids and is wearing a lilac long sleeve top with patterned leggings. The yoga matt is black with high contract purple alignment lines, which are designed to help align your body and improve posture during yoga poses.

We’re focusing on wellbeing and physical activity as we speak with Tokeer Akhtar.  Tokeer played sports both in the leagues and for England, in cricket, goalball and baseball and is active in his local community, rising awareness and creating opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to get involved in sports. He spoke with Happy Hour's Paulina Kuchorew. 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.

New research commissioned by not-for-profit healthcare provider, Benenden Health, has revealed the devastating toll menopause is taking on women’s careers. Joining us now to talk about the research and how we can better support women going through menopause is Dr Fiona Warner, GP for Women's Health at Benenden Hospital and Mike Hay, Chief People Officer at Benenden Health. 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.

British Heart Foundation have conducted new research on how stereotypes around cardiovascular conditions impact mental health. The charity is flipping the memorial bench into a symbol of survival and sharing the stories of people with heart conditions. Amelia spoke to Sindy Jodar, Senior Cardiac Nurse, to learn more... Learn more about BHF on their website - The biggest independent funder of heart and circulatory research in the UK - BHF 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.

RNIB is running a new series of support groups for blind and partially sighted people. They are facilitated by a qualified counsellor and provide a confidential and therapeutic space where you can receive support from a professional and others with a similar eye condition or life experience. Each group runs on teams with audio format only for 8 weeks, with a maximum of 7 participants, ensuring plenty of time to connect and be supported. Amelia spoke to Nikki Crosby, RNIB Counselling Team leader, to learn more. Visit the events page on the RNIB website to view the upcoming groups - Events and courses to help you develop your skills | RNIB Contact the counselling and wellbeing team at [email protected] or contact the helpline on 0303 123 9999, email [email protected] or say: “Alexa, call RNIB Helpline” to an Alexa-enabled device. Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white 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. 

A Moorfields project published on Monday 12 January 2026 in the British Journal of Ophthalmology demonstrated the effectiveness of a widely-used eye injection to manage the previously untreatable rare condition, hypotony. Harry Petrushkin, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, tells RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey all about the recent published research into treatment for the rare eye condition hypotony which affects around 1,000 people in the UK each year and the set up of the world’s first dedicated hypotony eye clinic at Moorfields. Harry also explained to Toby more about how the eye condition affects people’s vision, how a widely-used eye injection has been used to treat people with the condition which has not only restored the pressure in their eyes but in a number of cases has also restored their vision too. There is more about the research project into hypotony, the treatment and the new eye clinic by visiting the Moorfields Eye Hospital website - https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/about-us/news-and-blogs/news/promise-for-treatment-of-chronic-hypotony (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)

Step Change Studios is an award-winning, inclusive dance company committed to making dance accessible for everyone.  Based in the UK, they offer fun and engaging dance opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. They are currently running a slightly unusual class that you can join easily over the phone and here tell us more about it Community Dance Practitioner, Zoe Elliott. Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white 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.

Yoga teacher Dawn Blezard returns to the Happy Hour to chat with Paulina about setting gentle New Year's resolutions and some of her own tips for starting 2026 well. You can find out more about Dawn by searching for "Pathway Yoga with Dawn" on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube. Image shows a birds eye view photo shows Dawn holding a pose on her black yoga matt. Her legs are crossed and she holds onto her toes on either side of her body as she looks up at the camera. She has blonde hair set in two French braids and is wearing a lilac long sleeve top with patterned leggings. The yoga matt is black with high contract purple alignment lines, which are designed to help align your body and improve posture during yoga poses.