S1: Welcome to this podcast made possible by Vision Australia Radio.
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S1: more information on Vision Australia radio and our podcasts.
S2: Well, hopefully last week you caught up with the first
S2: episode of Nothing's Off Limits. If you didn't, well, shame
S2: on you, but you can't make up for it because
S2: there's lots more episodes to come. To tell us more about,
S2: we've got Polly Goodwin and Tess Herbert. Polly, how are you?
S3: I'm ready. Grandstand's Peter, how are you?
S2: Terrific as well, and it's so great to catch up
S2: with you again.
S4: It's lovely to chat with you again, Peter. It's a real,
S4: real pleasure.
S2: Well, Polly, we spoke to you when this was getting
S2: off the ground a few months ago. Now, for those
S2: that might have missed that or might be aware of that,
S2: the background of nothing's off limits. Just a bit about that.
S3: That's right. Gosh, yes, it was a while back now,
S3: wasn't it? So Nothing's Off Limits is a 10 part
S3: series being broadcast on Virgin Australia Radio, but also available
S3: as a podcast. And the idea is we wanted to
S3: get expert people with lived experience together to talk about
S3: some of the really challenging topics that we avoid or
S3: don't know how to start the conversation around and talk
S3: specifically through the lens of blindness and innovation. So we've
S3: pulled together 10 episodes each on a different topic, and
S3: we've had some amazing guests, haven't we test that have
S3: come in and just been so generous with their experience
S3: and their their wisdom that they've learned. So that's been
S3: such a joy.
S2: Tess, tell us a bit about your involvement then.
S4: Well, Peter, I actually interviewed Polly for Nothing's Off Limits
S4: on Talking Vision, which was quite wonderful late last year,
S4: and that was the first I'd heard of it. But
S4: then after that interview, we had such great chemistry as
S4: one of the most fun interviews I ever did. Early
S4: this year, Polly contacted me and asked me to be co-host,
S4: and I said yes because I had heard a lot
S4: about nothing's off limits by then, and I knew that
S4: it really delved into some of those tricky topics that
S4: maybe didn't get talked about for blindness and low vision perspective.
S4: And as someone who's blind myself and I know who
S4: would have loved those kind of resources when I was younger,
S4: I just thought it was such a wonderful project. And
S4: so I, yeah, that's how I became to get involved.
S4: And it's just been the most wonderfully rewarding project to
S4: be part of Polly.
S2: It's very well known, just that the podcast, the programme.
S3: It absolutely is. And as I say, hats off. Enormous
S3: thanks to our guests because they've been so open and
S3: so frank about some, some really difficult topics, actually. And
S3: whether they're difficult because they're some we're talking about mental
S3: health or whether they're difficult just because everyone's faces, you
S3: go bright red at that point. I think that, yeah,
S3: we've really kind of pushed the the title to the limit.
S3: So I think that's particularly interesting discussions now.
S2: Last week's show were the first show Tess has gone
S2: through where and if people have missed it, they can
S2: get it from the podcast page. So wherever they get
S2: at their podcasts and Australia radio, nothing's off limits as
S2: part of that as well. Well, I can get it
S2: to their podcast catch as well. Tell us a bit
S2: about last week's show, then it does get a little
S2: bit more. Well, shall we say, as sensitive as the
S2: series goes on.
S4: It does feature you're quite right. So yes, the first
S4: episode aired on Vision Australia Radio and can be downloaded
S4: now as a podcast, and that was about nutrition and exercise.
S4: So physical wellbeing, as we call it, physical health and wellbeing.
S4: And we had a couple of fantastic guests with lived
S4: experience of keeping fit and healthy and overcoming obstacles of
S4: blindness and low vision to do that. And we had
S4: a really interesting chat with Tyler in the US, who
S4: has actually created his own series of audio fitness apps
S4: where there's some great descriptions of workouts that people can
S4: do to keep fit. So we really got a lot
S4: of insights, and Jason, who is a bodybuilder, he talked
S4: to us as well about how he keeps fit and healthy,
S4: and they both had some great insights as to nutrition.
S4: So it was a fantastic first episode, and we're really
S4: hoping that people get a lot out of that because,
S4: you know, I know as someone who's blind myself, it
S4: can be very tricky figuring out how to, you know,
S4: how to do a workout, how to stay fit and healthy.
S4: So I'm hoping that will be really useful to our listeners.
S2: Jason, what is a great young man? He is a
S2: real estate agent by day, if you like, but he
S2: does a lot of things by night, if we might
S2: put it that way. And he's also very, very keen
S2: to get other people involved with things like the bodybuilding.
S2: I know that's one of his passions and not just
S2: because he likes to do it or he thinks it's
S2: a good thing, but he likes others to get involved.
S2: It's a really tremendous attitude for for a person to
S2: have probably been. As I said, it does get a
S2: little bit more, well, a bit more sensitive. And I
S2: guess that's part of the raison d'etre of the program,
S2: isn't it?
S3: That's right. We thought we'd break people in easily with
S3: the more approachable topic. But yes, we do move on
S3: to some. Some really, yes, some quite challenging topics. So some.
S3: We're doing one on mental health, and obviously we're very
S3: aware that that may bring up some issues for people,
S3: but we hope. I mean, the 30 minutes just isn't
S3: enough to cover any of these, really, but we're really
S3: hoping that these are starts of the conversations. So giving
S3: you some signposting, exploring some of the questions that I
S3: think really need to be talked about. We are also
S3: looking at sort of I'm laughing out of nerves here,
S3: which just goes to show how they are off limits.
S3: Some more fruity programs, shall we say. So we've got
S3: one on dating, which was a lot of fun to do.
S3: Some really great hits coming out of that. Some more
S3: stories as well from our guests. And then we're doing
S3: one as one on adult entertainment services and products, which
S3: was so fascinating. And we learned a lot about, I guess,
S3: some of the challenges around accessing some of those things.
S3: But also, you know, some really helpful strategies about how
S3: to find out what's out there, how to find out
S3: what's right for you. And I think the last two
S3: episodes I'm very excited about because they were both directly
S3: suggested by the community and ones around the specific experiences
S3: of being low vision. And we've broken out into a
S3: panel format for that, which was a lot of fun
S3: but just really insightful. And then the last episode is
S3: around kind of identity and community and that really challenging
S3: subject of disclosure as well. So we do a whistle
S3: stop tour through all of the hard questions. But as
S3: I say, we hope these are just the start of
S3: conversations for you to go on and talk about with
S3: friends and families and your friends.
S2: So that's on Wednesday evenings across the Vision Australia network.
S2: So in Adelaide, it's on tonight after this particular program
S2: or nine o'clock anyway, and then also in Melbourne and
S2: Perth and also being repeated on the weekend tested the
S2: mental health thing. I mean, that's really become much more,
S2: shall we say, mainstream if there's such a title since
S2: COVID has broken out, I mean, people seem much more
S2: comfortable to talk about mental health these days.
S4: Yes, I think I think you're right, Peter. And also
S4: with the introduction of telehealth, perhaps people have felt more
S4: comfortable to access some different mental health services. We spoke
S4: to two different guests, so one guest had lived experience
S4: and was able to, but also had training as a
S4: psychologist and was able to talk about mental health from
S4: a disability from a perspective of somebody with a disability.
S4: And then we also talked to a pediatric counsellor who'd
S4: worked for many, many years with young people dealing with
S4: issues of mental health and disability. So we really got
S4: two different spectrums, which I think will really help, because
S4: what a lot of people don't realise is that disability
S4: and mental health can be quite interconnected, and sometimes there
S4: are separate issues that people who have a disability might
S4: face with their mental health in terms of grief, loss, acceptance, commitment,
S4: you know, all those kind of things. So I think
S4: it was really good to talk about all of that
S4: in the third
S2: episode and possibly also tackle society as well.
S3: That's right. Yes, that's episode the next episode coming up
S3: so straight after your program. And we've kind of taken
S3: it from two angles ones about how you can be
S3: safe in your home, and some have some really practical
S3: skills to make sure that you're in control of your environment.
S3: But then we also had a couple of guests come
S3: in to help us explore how you can be confident
S3: moving around in different environments. What are some of the
S3: tips and tricks about making sure that you are in
S3: control of the situation? And I thought that was, I
S3: don't know about you, Tess, but I came away with
S3: so many learnings from that episode. In particular, I think
S3: about just some really good strategies about what you can do.
S4: Absolutely. I would agree with that. I think we had
S4: some really great guests who came at it from different,
S4: different directions, everything from orientation or ability to knowing your
S4: rights and body language. That was a fantastic episode, and
S4: I'm hoping that our listeners will really, really get a
S4: lot out of that next Wednesday.
S2: Just full disclosure on my part. I was actually asked
S2: to answer a few questions as part of this series,
S2: and obviously a lot of people must have dropped out
S2: and they must have run out of paper rings. So
S2: I was code for for a couple of hours. But
S2: you know, the people that were putting it together said, Yeah,
S2: you can be serious or you can be funny or,
S2: you know, if you want to hear your answers back
S2: or it's going to reveal your answers or indeed, if
S2: you don't want your answers to go to where you
S2: can do that, as well as so no one's been pressured,
S2: no has been put in a position where. But yeah,
S2: I wish I hadn't said that or I feel uncomfortable
S2: answering that and did it by, yeah, feeling like they
S2: need to tell you there's nothing like that that's going
S2: on as far as this goes. Is there?
S4: No, no. We're very aware that we are covering topics
S4: that can be very personal for people, sometimes very triggering
S4: when we start to talk about mental health and body image.
S4: So whether we're doing the Vox Pops or the guests,
S4: it's very important to us that people are aware that
S4: we only talk about what they're comfortable to talk about.
S4: And if they are not comfortable with what they have
S4: said with what has been recorded, we can change it.
S4: So it's very much about making sure that our guests
S4: or the people participating in the box pops are comfortable
S4: and well and truly in control of. Process and don't
S4: have to worry about going back and saying things again
S4: or taking bits out because, you know, I mean, especially
S4: those workshops, it is. So I mean, I guess and
S4: ever so important, hearing those stories from people with lived
S4: experience of blindness and low vision as well as experts.
S4: It's just wonderful and actually hearing the voices not just
S4: not just reports, but actually hearing the voices in the
S4: Vox Pops, I think is going to be at a
S4: real richness to it. So it's very important that everyone
S4: feels comfortable and that they are. The boundaries are very
S4: much respected,
S3: yet test is absolutely right. And that's a great great question, Peter.
S3: I think, you know, whilst it's called, nothing's off limits,
S3: the only thing that were off limits were things which
S3: people weren't comfortable talking about, and we were lucky to
S3: be able to pre record everything so that all of
S3: our guests can kind of go away and have a
S3: think and we can re-edit around what they're comfortable with.
S2: This is a focal point here on Vision Australia writing
S2: Westpac to public good, but in Test Urban about nothing's
S2: off limits. The brand new program that's just started on
S2: Vision Australia radio at nine o'clock Wednesday evenings on the
S2: visually writing network, also repeated on weekends. Polly was there
S2: one thing that stood out for you as far as
S2: this goes? And then I'll ask the same question
S3: Oh, do I only get one? Oh, Peter, oh yes.
S2: Nothing is off limits. Only one thing's off. Why do
S2: you choose?
S3: Oh my word. Okay? Erm, I think the thing that
S3: struck me most was, I think in a mental health episode,
S3: which was so many interesting stories and so much good
S3: advice came out. But the thing that really struck me
S3: was the advice that I had had to be proactive
S3: about your mental health. So in the same way as
S3: you know, you might go for a brisk walk or,
S3: you know, mind eating healthily or whatever it be to
S3: kind of take that proactive approach to your physical health.
S3: The idea that there are steps you can take to
S3: kind of bolster your mental health as well, not just
S3: when you're in a period of crisis. And that was
S3: a very powerful thing for me to test me.
S4: I would say that happened with the episode on dating.
S4: So we spoke to three different guests who just had
S4: so many wonderful, wonderful things to say about that. And
S4: I felt like I really learned a lot about how
S4: we can pick up on a lot of non-visual clues
S4: to make sure that, you know, the person we're going
S4: out on a date with is comfortable and how we
S4: can give a lot of clues, you know, are just
S4: so many great tips and strategies that they gave and
S4: taking dating from all sorts of different directions. So not
S4: everyone use the online apps, but a lot of the
S4: advice was quite similar in terms of how important body
S4: language is, how important it is to engage with confidence
S4: and how you really can. You know, visual yes, visual
S4: body language is can be important, but it's not the
S4: be all and end all. And I think that was
S4: a really, really powerful thing that I took from that,
S4: that we really can use so many different things to
S4: communicate when we're on a date.
S2: OK, so this 10 episodes, the first one's gone to air,
S2: but it is available through the podcast app or through
S2: Australia's website, and you can podcast that nothing is off
S2: limits to what to look for. Holly, thank you so
S2: much for speaking to us. Anything you'd like to sign
S2: in closing, obviously, we are encouraging people to listen in,
S2: and if they can't hear it live to air, then
S2: they can certainly podcast. I think one of the great
S2: things about this particular venture, if you like, is often
S2: we hear all you know you can podcast this or
S2: podcast that was, oh, I don't know, the podcast. I
S2: don't like podcasts. The great thing about this particular show
S2: is you can hear it the old fashioned way, like
S2: on the radio. And even if you miss it, if
S2: you'd like to hear it again and go to the website.
S2: So I think that's a fantastic initiative.
S3: Yeah, that's absolutely right. And someone described podcast brilliantly to
S3: me the other day as showing my age here. A
S3: podcast is really no different from when you recorded something
S3: off the radio and listened to it again later, which
S3: is saving you the bottom of having to record it
S3: in the first place. So yet you can head on
S3: to our website. Also, I should add that with each episode,
S3: we've pulled together a resources sheet that you can download,
S3: so that sort of anything that was mentioned in the podcast,
S3: all of those links and addresses will be in there
S3: and some other things that we didn't have time to
S3: put in as well. So do check it out on there.
S3: Nothing's off limits page.
S2: Terrific. Tess, good to catch up with you again. I'm
S2: sure this might be the last time we hear from you. And, well, congratulations.
S2: I've heard the first step aside. I actually I missed
S2: it on the radio. Well, actually, I was on the
S2: way home from the radio station that particular night, so
S2: I missed it. But I did download certainly those people
S2: who download any of our stuff. It's quite straightforward to download,
S2: so they should have any problems too. So thank you.
S4: Thank you, Peter, and I'm so glad you enjoyed it
S4: and I hope everyone else does as well.
S2: I'm looking forward to some of the but they probably
S2: say freaky stuff that's coming up later.
S3: Yes. Yes. We're not under promising there. No.
S2: OK, well, yeah. But if I deliver, we'll get you back. Mike,
S2: you explain
S4: any lead feedback?
S2: Well, the thing is to just quickly, if people got
S2: any responses to it, they can get in touch the
S2: usual ways about it because I'm sure with anything when
S2: it comes to broadcasting, you sort of love doing it,
S2: but it's also nice. Get some feedback and constructive criticism
S2: is welcome as well.
S3: Absolutely. We we were so welcome any feedback you have
S3: if we get the opportunity to do a second series,
S3: we want to improve it. We want to make it
S3: reflect what our listeners want so you can drop us
S3: an email that nothing's off limits at Vision Australia dot org.
S3: No apostrophe. So sorry for the grammar nuts, but that's
S3: there aren't apostrophes in email address. It's not something else
S3: I learned in this project.
S2: Someone just sent me a text saying, Can you make
S2: it more free to you next time? So I'm not
S2: quite sure what they're about, but I really want to
S2: leave it there. I like so much. Thanks so much,
S2: Polly and Tess. Appreciate that.
S3: Thank you.
S2: Thank you, guys. So that's so nothing is off limits.
S2: Wednesday evening at 9:00 p.m. on the East Australia radio network,
S2: repeated Sunday in Melbourne and Perth and Saturday nights in
S2: that light.
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