REMARKABLE WOMEN: OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A HEARING IMPAIRED RADIO PRODUCER

It's been so interesting producing my own Radio Series as a hearing impaired person. I learnt a lot on the last series, when I spent too long trying to do things in the way a hearing person might, which took an awful amount of ear energy, ear energy that I just don't have anymore - so for this series, I have tried something different, to explore whether or not it is possible to be more kind to my disability needs, and still make great radio for the listener.

The series is called Remarkable Women & launches on International Women's Day 8th March at 7pm with Oystermouth Radio. It feels really important to launch on this day because I have been bestowed a very great honour indeed, by the  Women's Equality Network, who have made me an honorary member of the Top 100 Women Pioneers in Wales for my work in the Arts, Health & Innovation. I can't quite believe it. This is an all time list & so, I'm in great company - there are suffragettes, politicians, sports women and ... me! 

In light of this, it feels like the right time to create a Radio Series that celebrates all Remarkable Women and I am very grateful to Oystermouth Radio & Welsh Connections for giving me the opportunity to take it to the airwaves.

Anyway, I digress, the first thing, was to invite women guests to talk open and freely about their amazing life. I made a video to give help & guidance, so that I would only need to talk to folk the once ... some of the women I invited, struggled with this free format and wanted me to interview them in the traditional way - I am a firm believer that the right women accepted the challenge to try something new and the results are nothing short of astounding. Now, after receiving the interviews in my inbox, I am building the shows around the guests, rather than vice versa. This has meant trusting wholly in my guests and allowing the series to be shaped by itself. That makes me smile inside. It's been a huge part of my journey, letting go of things and accepting what is, and this feels like part of that process.

The quality of some of the interviews from a technical point of view, is not great, but the life stories are so inspiring, & that's what really matters. It has made me realise that we so seldom get the chance just to listen to each other for 20 minutes - to hear in great depth about each others lives is such a joy.

Then last week, I decided it would be a good idea to extend the platform, & include unpublished music or songs written by women musicians ... so  I have a call out for that at the moment too ... feel free to get in touch if you'd like to submit your own unpublished track.

If everything goes to plan, I should have 6 women guests and 4 - 6 women musicians joining me ... 

So far my Interview Guests are: -

Fiona Winter from Energy Moves & The Summer House Studio.

Dr Anne Lister, Historian, Songwriter & Storyteller.

Catherine Fookes, Director of the Women's Equality Network.

Abbie Jebbers, Singer/ Songwriter & Holistic Therapist.

Esyllt George, Drama Therapist 

Cheryl Bass, Director of I AM WOMAN.

Music so far, from, Ann Lister, Abbie Jebbers, Kate Strudwick & Lowri Evans.

And off course, I will be talking about my life, too, in bite size chunks - and no doubt chanting.

What I have learnt so far,  is that there is always a way to overcome our challenges, as long as we listen to ourselves & trust each other, our desires are possible, even if we can not hear like we used to. 

Namaste, Dear Ones.

Full details available at www.cherylbeer.com

NEW RADIO SHOW: Conversations about the Human Spirit & Well Being

Oh my days, my new Radio Series just launched at Oystermouth Radio and will air every Sunday at 7.00pm for the next 6 weeks. I am so thrilled. 

I feel so blessed to have such inspirational guests who will be joining me, women who have moved me by their dedication to help others through their own practice. It feels important to create a platform for them to share their story because it may help others listening to think of new ways of lifting their own spirit. Above all things, this is what makes the long hours of filming and editing worthwhile.

I have recorded the entire series on my phone and a tiny hand held tascam recorder. Despite my hearing impairments, I have managed to edit the radio shows and podcasts by myself, allowing space for the women to simply 'be' and truly shine. It is my deepest desire that everyone who listens, is able to take something from it for themselves.

Dates for your diary ... every Sunday at 7pm from 24th November onwards - full details at www.cherylbeer.com including links to Oystermouth Radio & Welsh Connections.

Week 1: We launch with My Story & Introduce the series.

Week 2: my special guest is Caroline Lane talking about how she turned her crafting into a workshops that help others

Week 3 is Shamanic Healer Willow Jordan about her work at Driftwood Hollow Therapies

Week 4 is Kiera L Jones, Soul Midwife and Nurse at Skanda Vale Hospice

Week 5 is Eleanor Shaw giving us a personal insight into how Storytelling helped her to heal and how she went on to set up the Award Winning People Speak Up

Week 6 is Ger Kennedy, renowned Artist from Ireland, telling the story of her artwork, which she kindly gave me permission to use as my album cover artwork.

www.cherylbeer.com
Oystermouth Radio
@welshconnections

Radio Interview with Welsh Connections

Had a wonderful interview with Mike Kennedy of Radio Oystermouth tonight. He is such a lovely man. Within about 10 minutes I felt as though I'd known him years, like reuniting with an old school chum. He absolutely is 100% passionate about his music and indeed knew more about my songs than I did. He very genuinely is interested in song writers and why they write. The show isn't about him for one second ... You know how Parkinson interviews people getting their story to the fore front by cleverly nudging the interview to give them a platform ... well, Mike is a bit like that only more rock and roll ... say, a bit like the Ron Wood interview radio & TV shows. I don't think I have ever in my whole career been given a 2 hour radio forum to talk about my work. Thanks a million Mike! Oystermouth is a community radio station which pretty much means it is run by volunteers who give their time and dedication to local airwaves and it seemed a fitting place indeed to talk about The Dragon Tree given that it is based in Oriel Bach in Mumbles. BTW Oriel Bach is beautiful. Bach is little in welsh, and yes it may be a little gallery originally set up by students to share their work, but it is crammed full of creativity and inspiration. I'll definitely be going back during the daytime to buy lots of beautiful things made by local artists using materials from the coastline: right up my street! So, Mike is going to send me the show on DVD and I'll make little films from it and put them on here so you can have a listen. The interviews are being edited and re-aired this Thursday too. Talking about my work for 2 hours I thought ... blimey charlie! I've done quite a lot really, haven't I!!! I suppose you can't see it when you're in it. 2 hours with Mike is a bit like Self Esteem building for song writers! I came out smiling and feeling relaxed ... what a diamond chap he is! And what's more, Mike has a ukulele he is going to donate to my fundraising for my trip back to play music with the chidlren in the orphanage in Belarus.

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