Episodios

  • 141 - Dr Erna van der Westhuizen on the Concept of Voice Economy to Benefit Marginalised Groups

    141 - Dr Erna van der Westhuizen on the Concept of Voice Economy to Benefit Marginalised Groups
    Dec 23 2025
    In this episode, Lois speaks with Dr Erna van der Westhuizen about the concept of voice economy as a way for marginalized groups, including those with disabilities, to empower and advocate for themselves.

    Erna developed the concept of voice economy after leading an advocacy project to explore the out of pocket expenses experienced by parents of children with disabilities. When she initially struggled to get the information she needed for the project, she started a WhatsApp group to communicate with community leaders who began adding parents and other stakeholders to the group. Within a short time it had grown to more than 3000 participants sharing their lived experiences and knowledge to benefit others in the community.

    Erna defines voice economy as a system of expression and an exchange of individual and collective voices to generate shared value that drives social transformation and change

    Discover more about voice economy at
    Website: www.voiceeconomy.org
    Read Erna’s latest article at:
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12587122/

    Image Description:
    A woman with short hair wearing a red academic gown.. She is dressed in a black and white patterned shirt and has on a pair of spectacles and a chunky Necklace of red and black. The image is taken outdoors with trees and mountains in the background.
    I’d love to hear from you – contact me at
    Website : loisstrachan.com
    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker

    This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com
    Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.
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    39 m
  • 140 - Dr Julie Siemers on Patient Safety During Medical Interventions

    140 - Dr Julie Siemers on Patient Safety During Medical Interventions
    Dec 9 2025
    In this episode, Lois speaks with Dr Julie Siemers, a specialist in patient safety.
    So often we hear of patients with disabilities who experience poor communication from medical professionals when undergoing treatments. While talking with Dr Julie, I learned that this form of medical gaslighting is not limited to our community, but may happen generally.

    Julie lists various factors that may result in patient harm, both from the side of the patient and the medical professionals. She also suggests ways in which patients can protect themselves from potentially dangerous medical situations. This is a valuable episode for anyone undergoing medical care to ensure their health and safety.

    Discover more about Dr Julie at
    Website: https://drjuliesiemers.com/
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbWkt2P7SKI
    Get hold of her book at:
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKRWPV8P
    Image Description:
    A woman with long, wavy brown hair smiles warmly at the camera. She is wearing a blue and white jacket over a tan blouse and gold hoop earrings.

    I’d love to hear from you – contact me at
    Website : loisstrachan.com
    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker

    This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com
    Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.
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    55 m
  • 139 - My Journey with Chronic Kidney Disease – From Dialysis to Hope

    139 - My Journey with Chronic Kidney Disease – From Dialysis to Hope
    Nov 25 2025
    With November being disability awareness month in South Africa and 14 November being the annual day dedicated to recognising those living with diabetes, it seemed an appropriate time to publish this interview.

    In this special two-part episode, I unpack my journey with chronic kidney disease in conversation with Jeremy Opperman.
    In episode 138, we discuss my diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes when I was six years old and trace the impact of diabetes on my life, resulting in my blindness at the age of 21. We then turn to my subsequent discovery that I was experiencing chronic kidney disease and track the steps that led to my starting on dialysis in January 2025.

    In episode 139 we explore how I’ve adapted to dialysis as a blind woman, trying to offer insights into some of the medical realities. Finally, we discuss what the future holds as I start to discover more about a possible kidney transplant.
    *Note: this conversation was recorded a few months ago and much has changed since then. I now have a kidney donor and am working my way through the process of preparing for the transplant.
    Correction: , at one point I refer to the AV graft as an artificial vascular graft. The correct term is arteriovenous Graft, which connects an artery with a vein allowing access for the dialysis to take place.

    Image Description: A stylised graphic of a woman with a ponytail walking with a white cane, next to an icon of an eye with curved lines suggesting vision or awareness. Below the graphic is the text:A Different Way of Seeing with Lois Strachan

    I’d love to hear from you – contact me at
    Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/
    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker

    This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com
    Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.
    Más Menos
    51 m
  • 138 - My Journey with Chronic Kidney Disease – From Diabetes to Dialysis

    138 - My Journey with Chronic Kidney Disease – From Diabetes to Dialysis
    Nov 11 2025
    With November being disability awareness month in South Africa and 14 November being the annual day dedicated to recognising those living with diabetes, it seemed an appropriate time to publish this interview.

    In this special two-part episode, I unpack my journey with chronic kidney disease in conversation with Jeremy Opperman.
    In episode 138, we discuss my diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes when I was six years old and trace the impact of diabetes on my life, resulting in my blindness at the age of 21. We then turn to my subsequent discovery that I was experiencing chronic kidney disease and track the steps that led to my starting on dialysis in January 2025.

    In episode 139 we explore how I’ve adapted to dialysis as a blind woman, trying to offer insights into some of the medical realities. Finally, we discuss what the future holds as I start to discover more about a possible kidney transplant.
    *Note: this conversation was recorded a few months ago and much has changed since then. I now have a kidney donor and am working my way through the process of preparing for the transplant.
    Correction: , at one point I refer to the AV graft as an artificial vascular graft. The correct term is arteriovenous Graft, which connects an artery with a vein allowing access for the dialysis to take place.

    Image Description: A stylised graphic of a woman with a ponytail walking with a white cane, next to an icon of an eye with curved lines suggesting vision or awareness. Below the graphic is the text:A Different Way of Seeing with Lois Strachan

    I’d love to hear from you – contact me at
    Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/
    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker

    This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com
    Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.
    Más Menos
    44 m
  • 137 - A Conversation with Coach Jack on Growing Blind Football in South Africa

    137 - A Conversation with Coach Jack on Growing Blind Football in South Africa
    Oct 28 2025
    In today’s episode, Lois chats with Mlimbisi Msibi (also known as Coach Jack) from Corinthians Africa, a youth empowerment organisation in Gauteng, South Africa. Amongst the programmes they offer youth, Corinthians Africa have started an active blind football team. For his work empowering both youth with and without disabilities, Mlimbisi Msibi was the recipient of a Young Mandela Award in 2025.

    During the conversation, Coach Jack shares the story of how Corinthians Africa came to be, and how the blind football initiative became part of their offerings. He also discusses his goal of growing the movement to allow greater numbers of blind youth to participate in blind football through the establishment of a blind soccer league in South Africa.

    Apologies for the minor technical difficulties experienced during this interview – sometimes that is just the way it goes!
    Learn more about Coach Jack and Corinthians Africa at:
    e-mail: Jack@corinthians.africa
    Instagram, Tiktok, LinkedIn and Facebook: Corinthians Africa.
    Coach Jack Personal:
    Tiktok: Coach Jack 48
    LinkedIn: Mlungisi Jack Msibi
    Watch this short YouTube video about the story:
    https://youtu.be/59vFx9mr8kc?si=X63Eu_JEW3a2yb-S
    Image description:
    I’d love to hear from you – contact me at
    Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/
    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker

    This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com
    Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.
    Más Menos
    40 m
  • 136 - Dr Chiggy Oghotuama on Advocating for Children with Disabilities in Nigeria

    136 - Dr Chiggy Oghotuama on Advocating for Children with Disabilities in Nigeria
    Oct 14 2025
    Dr Chiggy Oghotuama is the founder of the Seizure Support Foundation in Nigeria. As a mother to a special needs child, Chiggy encountered challenges when searching for support groups in her area from whom she could learn.

    This led her to engage stakeholders at all levels, from parents to government, to advocate for the inclusion of children from marginalised groups in education, health and other areas of life.

    In this episode, I chat with Dr Chiggy about some of the initiatives that the Seizure Support Foundation has put in place in Nigeria, including an education scholarship fund, a medical outreach programme, and the video modelling project, to assist parents of children with disabilities. She describes the challenges faced by those whose lives are impacted by disability in her community and introduces us to the ASK anagram that she uses when working with parents of children with a new diagnosis of disability.

    Learn more about Dr Chiggy and the Seizure Support Foundation at:
    Website: www.seizuresupportfoundation.org
    e-mail: info@seizuresupportfoundation.org
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeizureCare
    Instagram: seizure_support_foundation
    Image description:
    A woman of colour with short hair wearing glasses and a white button-up shirt, earrings, a bracelet, and a wristwatch. On a wooden stool next to her is an award plaque recognising her as a woman that Builds. Her right arm is bent and her fist is raised in a gesture of determination or celebration.
    I’d love to hear from you – contact me at
    Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/
    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker

    This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com
    Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.
    Más Menos
    55 m
  • 135 - Cary Lowe and Trish Butler on Travelling with a Mobility Impairment

    135 - Cary Lowe and Trish Butler on Travelling with a Mobility Impairment
    Sep 16 2025
    In this episode, I chat with Cary Lowe and Trish Butler about the complexities of travelling with a mobility impairment like multiple sclerosis. The conversation centres around a new book released by Cary, entitled “On Two Legs and Three Wheels” in which he shares some of the global travel adventures he and his wife Trish, who is a wheelchair user, have had over the years.

    During the chat, Cary and Trish discuss some of the most common challenges faced by travellers who are wheelchair users, ways in which the hospitality industry could make their services and venues more inclusive to all, and address the topic of travel for an ageing population. They also share a few of their wealth of travel stories, both positive and negative, to illustrate their insights.
    Here’s where you can find Cary’s book:
    https://tinyurl.com/3zj4r77m
    Learn more about Cary at:
    https://carylowewriter.com/
    Image description:
    The cover of the book On Two Legs and Three Wheels, by Cary D Lowe. The cover shows an older man and woman outdoors. The man is standing and holding a mobility scooter handle, while the woman sits on the scooter, smiling, with her hand on the man's. They are in front of a lush, green backdrop with a tall waterfall behind them. The subtitle of the book is The Travel Adventures of a Couple Overcoming Age and Disability.
    I’d love to hear from you – contact me at
    Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/
    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker

    This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com
    Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.
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    1 h y 8 m
  • 134 - Talitha Humes on Managing Medication with Multiple Sclerosis

    134 - Talitha Humes on Managing Medication with Multiple Sclerosis
    Sep 2 2025
    In this episode, I chat with Talitha Humes about her app which enables users to easily identify and take
    the prescribed medications required for their chronic and auto-immune conditions.
    After receiving a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 2005, Talitha realized that her medications were
    complex and increasingly difficult to manage accurately. Despite trying various available apps to assist
    her with managing her tablets, none worked well for Talitha, which began the journey of developing an
    app that would suit her needs.

    The app, See Meds, is available at no cost on IOS and will hopefully be coming to Android shortly.

    Since we recorded, I installed the app and tested it. From what I can see, it is almost entirely accessible
    for me as a blind user of an iPhone with VoiceOver.

    Here’s where you can find the app and read more about it:
    Website: www.seemymed.com
    See Meds App on IOS: https://apps.apple.com/za/app/see-meds/id1671939877
    https://www.instagram.com/seemedsapp/

    Image description:
    A woman with short curly light hair, wearing a light blue collared shirt. She has pearl-stud earrings and is
    wearing glasses with a dark frame.
    I’d love to hear from you – contact me at
    Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/
    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker

    This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com
    Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.
    Más Menos
    32 m
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