Lois Strachan is a disability coach, a bestselling author of six books, a podcaster, blogger, professional speaker and a sometime rock musician. And she became blind at the age of 21 as a result of diabetic retinopathy.  Lois loves to travel, drinks way too much tea, and spends what spare time she has reading, listening to music, and playing with her family of dogs, including her guide dog Normandy. 

As a disability coach, Lois guides people to overcome the obstacles that prevent them from living their full potential and finding their purpose.  

Episodes: 82 and 82.5, On Being a Person with a Disability in a Developing Country

James is a neurodivergent virtual assistant and founder of CleverVA, a VA agency specialising in supporting other neurodivergent and disabled entrepreneurs and individuals. With multiple neurodivergent diagnoses (Dyspraxia, Autism, Dyslexia, and probably ADHD too), James combines his lived experience with practical support to help his clients in ways that genuinely work with their brains, so they can get organised, stay accountable and fall back in love with their work.

Episodes: 83 and 83.5, On Being the Odd One Out at Work

Episodes: 83 and 83.5, On Being the Odd One Out at Work

Episodes: 85 and 85.5, On Representation in Art

Dr Antje Bothin has a passion for writing and her inspirational poems have been published in international anthologies, e-zines, poetry magazines and journals. She authored an inspiring novel about a treasure hunt in Iceland featuring a character with Selective Mutism (SM) – ‘Annika and the Treasure of Iceland’ and the poetry book ‘Quiet: A Poem about Selective Mutism’. 

Assertive Voices supports people with finding their voice, shining their light and unleashing their full potential in education, at work and in the community. We provide online and in-person assertiveness training and assertive communication coaching, online courses and awareness of and support for social communication anxiety challenges. 

Episodes: 86 and 86.5, On Selective Mutism

Alice Hargreaves (she/her) is the founder of SIC, a CIC that works to close the disability employment gap. Disabled, Alice spent years struggling to secure stable employment that offered the career progression she longed for. 

Just over five years ago, she established SIC, which operates across a learning hub for disabled and neurodivergent people and a business consultancy that supports businesses in becoming more inclusive and accessible. Since founding SIC, Alice has worked with local and national government as an advisor and consultant, has been welcomed to 10 Downing Street, and has been named one of the top 100 Social Entrepreneurs in the UK. Clients of SIC include the University of Strathclyde, the Science Museum Group, Lab42 Games, The Charities Aid Foundation, and NatWest.

Episodes: 87 and 87.5, On the Disability Employment Gap

Kat Paylor-Bent is a multi-award-winning adaptive fashion designer, access consultant, and the founder of Seated Sewing. Seated Sewing is an adaptive fashion company creating stylish, practical clothing tailored for wheelchair users and people with diverse needs, blending comfort, dignity, and individuality with innovative design.

Episodes: 88 and 88.5, On Adaptive Clothing Revisited