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

The Dancing Boy & his Shadow.

The Dancing Boy & His Shadow

When I watched Sean from Hijnx Theatre Company and Angharad from Artscare Gofal Celf dancing a shadow improvisation, I was moved to tears. We live in a society that does not empower people with learning disabilities to be leaders, so I found something deeply poignant in the role reversal, not knowing who is the 'teacher', not needing to, just experiencing the human connection of the dancers. And Sean moves so beautifully, his love of dance reaches out from the screen. As soon as I saw them, I put down everything I was doing and responded in story, to encapsulate the emotion of the moment.

The following day, I performed the piece as  reading on facebook live to 200 viewers, including Sean & his Mum who wrote to me saying ...

'I felt every word of your story , it was as though you had knowledge of Sean's life and struggles, his love of music and dancing. He was smiling all the way through . I will treasure this lovely story. It was absolutely wonderful and had me in tears. It's given me a little lift and really encourages me and Sean to embrace his passion and makes things very worthwhile. Thank you so much for making Sean feel very special tonight, from a very emotional Mum.

   

This is the facebook live and at the top of the blog, is the film footage edited with the story. I hope that you enjoy it, feel it.

The photo used in the e-flier and the title page of the film is a painting by Virgina Flemming found at www.disabilitypicturebooks.com

If you would like more information about my stories, why not pop over to my website, The Sleeping Storyteller ...

THE SLEEPING STORYTELLER TV SERIES: She writes stories in her sleep!

I am set to start quite likely one of the most exciting adventures ever; one that I could not have dreamt would even be possible. The immensely popular Internet TV Station, Showboat TV, have offered me a 6 part pilot TV series, with my own Storytelling Show! I am going to be on the telly box for the run up to Christmas, the last story being aired on Christmas Eve! 

My show is called 'The Sleeping Storyteller' and I will be telling the stories that I write in my sleep. Yep, that's right, in my sleep!

As some of you will have read already, since becoming hearing impaired, my tinnitus keeps me awake all night. I do not go into deep sleep for a very long time. In this twilight zone, I have been writing stories, poems and songs by recording them onto the voice recorder of my mobile phone IN MY SLEEP!!! Yep, I know, it's out there, even for me, which is why I haven't really stepped into it, until now. I didn't even know I was doing it, until I happened to look on my mobile phone and found literally 100's of recordings.

My first book, Soul Ink for the Morning, contains 100 little poems from my voice recorder and has been received very well throughout the Summer at the Book Fairs, so I decided to start typing up the stories that I have also spoken into my phone whilst sleeping, too. It is these that will form my new pilot, The Sleeping Storyteller TV Show.

It's absolutely unbelievable, isn't it? But it has just sort of happened and so I am embracing it. I am going to be a television presenter! Oh my days! I am smiling from ear to ear, just typing it.

Fate had a BIG hand in it and as you come with me on this adventure, you'll find out why I believe it is all meant to be. Be sure to FOLLOW my blog by adding your email address in the box provided, top right of the page, that says 'Follow by Email', that way you won't miss out on the fun.

Right now, there are all sorts of exciting things happening behind the scenes, like designing a new website and making the characters into toys, as I prepare for filming at the end of this month!!!!!!!! GADZUKES!

MAHOOSIVE thanks to the very lovely John & Maxine Rolls at Showboat TV for opening this incredible opportunity for me to share my stories in a deaf friendly environment. I can't begin to tell you how much it means to me. Thank you for your faith in me and for believing in me. I'm going to stop now, or else I will have to go and get the tissues. All love to you, dear ones.