Simon Minty's recent thoughts and more

There's a new talkshow out from BBC Ouch and this one is an eclectic mix of subjects. Fortunately the guests were all up for conversation so it happily bounces along. I should warn you, it's got some adult content. There's an exploratory conversation about  devotees (people who find a physical impairment sexy in itself) and we sail close to the wind with that. Another guest suggests capitalism inherently discriminates against disabled people and Marxism might be better and so has written a book about it. We also continue the ever evolving debate over what's the correct terminology when talking about disability and why do some people who have one, (a disability or impairment) still struggle to say the word 'disability'?   Hope you like it. BBC Ouch Talkshow From L to R - Roddy Slorach, Simon Minty and Kate Monaghan-Cocker

A few months ago I was chairing an employment and disability event. There was a panel of youngish speakers, in their early twenties, talking about their experiences of employment and having an impairment. One of them suggested if you don't 'manage' your physical disability or at least address it, might it lead to a mental health problem too? This possibility is something I've been aware of for a long time but it is rare that it's publicly stated. I suspect the avoidance is partly to avoid affirming a stereotype and quite rightly to not suggest it's automatically the case for everyone. By avoiding it though, are we denying it's existence for some? And how do you know if the disability is the issue or just regular bumps in modern life? What sort of support can you get if it is the case? I liked that the twenty something person said it at the conference.  We discuss all this in the latest BBC Ouch show with guests who have both a physical disability and a me...

I was invited to speak at the fantastic Names Not Numbers conference earlier this week. There were some big hitters in attendance from journalism and cultural commentary. I was part of the 'Provocations' section which was a treat as it gave me plenty of space to raise difficult subjects. I asked 'Is it ok to laugh at a disabled person?' and talked about how disability and comedy has evolved since we started Abnormally Funny People. And I got to say it all in church, St James's, Piccadilly. I was preaching to the unconverted. Simon Minty speaking at St James's, Piccadilly Side view of Simon speaking at St James's, Piccadilly

I've been guest presenting the BBC Ouch show for a few months now and the latest show is out. The latest show is  about having babies and being a disabled mum plus we delve in to Deaf culture and education. All the guests had great names - Tomato, Swinbourne, Raworth, Franklin, Whitby and Shakespeare and of course hosted by Monaghan-Cocker & Minty.   http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03fh420 In the BBC Studio, from L to R Simon Minty, BSL interpreter, Kate Monaghan-Cocker and Tomato Lichy.

On New Years Day 2016, Baroness Jane Campbell was the guest editor of the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. She chose some interesting items including a revealing debate with Matthew Parris about assisted suicide / right to die, reform of the House of Lords and a colourful history of one of Jane's former assistants. I got to have a chat with stand up Jack Carroll (Britain's Got Talent, Trollied) about comedy and disability too.  Listen again link below for a limited time or download the podcast now and listen at your leisure. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06sp65d Simon Minty in BBC studio 

Below is a link to an article I wrote for BBC Ouch which appeared on the BBC News website about disability and comedy today, ten years after we did our first show. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-33904621 Juliette Burton hosting improvisation with Lost Voice Guy, Laurence Clark and Tanyalee Davis

This is a joy of a podcast. We receive the highs and lows and the funniest moments of our month long run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2015. We returned for our 10th birthday with the biggest line up we've ever had. http://www.abnormallyfunnypeople.com/Episode14 Steve Best, Laurence Clark, Steve Day and Simon Minty