Access All: Disability News and Mental Health

Guest host Kiruna Stamell joins Mat Fraser for April's podcast, featuring disabled UK rapper MC Wheelz talking to US hip hop combo 4 Wheel City in New York. Chat includes: anaesthetic, surgery, assistance dogs, wolves and much, much more. Heck, it looks really crap written down, but trust us it's very entertaining!

An Australian-themed edition, as globe-trotting host Liz Carr checks in from Sydney, with Mat Fraser and Rob Crossan back in London. There's a phone interview with disabled Aussie comedian Steady Eddy, Liz's guests are Danny and Sam Noonan, both blind Ouch fans from Down Under, whilst Danny also provides the closing song. Rob and Liz compare disability news stories from their opposite sides of the world, there's an Australian food taste test, plus a chance to test out the accessibility of the infamous Tim Tam Slam. Can Mat and Rob both manage to suck tea through a chocolate biscuit?

This month, joining Mat Fraser and guest host, actress Julie Fernandez, are two stars of the new comedy movie 'Special People', which is going to be a highlight of the 8th Disability Film Festival, while Rob Crossan is also in the studio to discuss some juicy items of disability news. The hosts shoot the breeze about disability sport, there's a very characterful 'Vegetable, Vegetable or Vegetable' contestant, and music from singer songwriter Jayne Stevens.

This month's show, broadcasting across the virtual airwaves from BBC Broadcasting House in London, features wheelchair workout queen Leanne Grose, who puts Podcast hosts Mat Fraser and Liz Carr through their exercise paces. There's an interview with 'Star Wars' and 'Harry Potter' actor Warwick Davis, another round of Vegetable, Vegetable or Vegetable, music from MC Dean of the Heart 'n Soul posse, and Liz has some very exciting news of particular interest to those of you outside the UK.

This month's show is a very special festive extravaganza recorded in front of a live studio audience at the BBC Radio Theatre in London. Liz Carr is the strict question mistress as two teams take part in a disability-themed quiz. Joining Mat Fraser on his team is deaf comedian Steve Day, and they take on Laurence Clark and actress Julie Fernandez. Plus, piano genius and 'human iPod' Derek Paravicini accompanies some carol singalongs, roving Rob Crossan meets members of the audience, and Mat gives the first ever performance of the Ouch Christmas single, 'Cripples at Christmas'.

Mat and Liz discuss the controversial case of disabled teenager Katie Thorpe, whose mother is seeking a hysterectomy for her so that she won't have to suffer monthly periods; Roving Rob Crossan is at one of London's most popular tourist attractions, Madame Tussauds; studio guests are from Yarrow, a social housing project for people with learning difficulties, who have made a movie with award-winning actor Bill Nighy; Mat and Liz are 'on a train', in an experimental new feature for the Podcast; plus there's music from female acoustic duo, Bad Alice.

Mat and Liz talk to blind psychic Sharon Neill, who also helps out our presenters with Vegetable, Vegetable or Vegetable. Liz chats about accessibility at funerals (it's more cheerful than it sounds, honest), and there's also a discussion about personal assistants: where do you draw the line between PA or partner? Rob Crossan goes on a date with a Podcast listener, plus there's music from Brighton punk band Heavy Load, who feature members both with and without learning disabilities.

Liz Carr is joined by guest presenter Laurence Clark in a show featuring Holly Lane's reports from the Liberty disability rights festival in London's Trafalgar Square, a discussion about disability parenting with Jacqui Jackson and Yuen Har Tse, another round of the Podcast favourite Vegetable, Vegetable or Vegetable (with Laurence reading the rules very fast!), music from 'Aussie autie' Donna Williams - and Rob Crossan looking for lurve.