A new chapter: Joining the RNIB Connect Radio family

If you follow me on social media, then you’ll know that a few days ago I had some exciting news to share…I’m co-hosting a radio show!

Yes, I can’t quite believe it either.

 

I’m sure you all know by now that I treat my blog a bit like a diary sometimes, so this post is adding to that little collection. There’s no doubt about it, my blog has helped me on my journey into radio, so it only seemed right to talk about it on here.

 

Finding my love of radio

I’ve always had a little bit of a secret love for radio, but never thought I’d actually end up on the airwaves.

When I started my blog, along came some radio interviews. Over the last few years, I’ve been lucky enough to appear on BBC Radio York, BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio Manchester and I also became a regular interviewee on RNIB Connect Radio.

As daunting as it can be at times, I always finish an interview feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

After every radio interview, I’m always left thinking “I’d love to be on the radio”.

Being on the radio was at the back of my mind as one of those goals that I’d love to achieve, but didn’t know if I ever would. I’m sure you know the ones I’m talking about, we all have them right?

Quite frankly, I didn’t know how to make it happen either. I’ve reached out to local radio stations in the past, but nothing ever came from it, which I completely understood.

I guess they say everything happens for a reason.

 

During my regular interview slots on the Afternoon Edition on RNIB Connect Radio, I got to know the presenter and producer rather well. I plucked up the courage to ask about getting into radio, and little did I know they worked their magic.

 

In the summer of 2020 I was asked if I’d like to do a couple of interviews for the station and be the one asking the questions, rather than the one answering them. I grabbed the opportunity, and so I recorded and edited my interviews. Audio editing was something very new to me, but it soon became something that I was interested in, and I was eager to learn more.

Being ‘on the other side of the microphone’ so to speak felt strange at first, it was a completely new experience, but I loved it. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process – from finding people to interview, to planning the interviews, recording and editing. I took a lot away from the experience and it’s something I’m really proud of.

I’m very grateful to the station for giving me the opportunity.

So I went back to my day job, with that goal of being on the radio niggling away in my mind.

 

I spent a large proportion of 2020 thinking about my future plans and career goals. I took on some freelance work which confirmed that I knew that I wanted to be working within the disability or charity sectors in some capacity. But I also knew that I wanted to carry on my blog and the opportunities that come with that.

And that leads me to where we are today.

I’ve dreamt of being on the radio for years, but never thought that it would actually happen. Well…here we are!

 

Joining the RNIB Connect Radio family

Towards the end of 2020, I was contacted by the producer of the Afternoon Edition on RNIB Connect Radio, asking if I’d be interested in co-hosting a show on sight loss and wellbeing.

I couldn’t quite believe that I had been given such a fantastic opportunity. Let’s remember the fact that I had very little radio experience, I certainly had no experience of presenting. For them to believe in me is something I’m extremely thankful for.

I was rather sceptical about how I would fit it into my already busy schedule, especially as I had recently been diagnosed with ME/CFS. I was working on mastering the art of pacing, and not pushing myself beyond my limits. But I also knew that it was an opportunity that I only could have ever imagined, so I said yes. I can honestly say that it is one of the best decisions I have ever made!

 

Things went full circle, I was going to be co-hosting a show with the producer from the Afternoon Edition, the same person that had believed in me from the beginning. We connected over our love of pop music (especially Ed Sheeran!)

 

We have spent the last few months working on the show – planning content, getting in touch with people we’d like to interview and putting everything together.

I can honestly say that it has been a light in my life during such a difficult few months.

 

The Happy Hour is a show dedicated to all things sight loss and wellbeing. It will focus on sight loss, mental and physical health, and over all wellbeing. Each show a guest will join us for a candid conversation, and we’ll also have a mix of great music!

 

Co-hosting the Happy Hour brings many of my passions together, raising awareness of vision impairment, helping others, and not forgetting my love of music.

Having in-depth and honest conversations with our guests about all aspects of sight loss reminds me how much I love the community.

 

I’ve learned a lot about radio already, and I can’t wait to find out even more as time goes on. I love every aspect of the show, from the preparation, interviewing our guests and of course putting the show together. But it wouldn’t be what it is without my incredible co-host!

 

I feel like right now is the perfect time for a show that has a primary focus on sight loss and wellbeing, it’s such an honour to be part of something so important.

 

The show starts on February 15^th. Tune into the Happy Hour on RNIB Connect Radio Mondays at 1pm, Thursdays at 6pm and Sundays at 10am, with new episodes every other week!

*I had to pinch myself whilst writing that*

You can listen to RNIB Connect Radio online or on Freeview channel 730.

There’s also a Happy Hour podcast which is a trimmed down version of the hour-long show. Subscribe via the Audioboom channel or wherever you get your podcasts from.

 

 

Check out the promo below

 

So my goal of being on the radio somehow became a reality.

Having the chance to do a show on a radio station that I have such a personal connection with is a real privilege.

 

I’d like to thank my amazing co-host and the team at RNIB Connect Radio for the opportunity.

Thank you to my friends and family for always believing in me.

And thank you to my lovely readers for your constant support, none of this would have been possible without you!

 

If you do tune into the Happy Hour, then I’d love to know your thoughts, let me know in the comments!

 

Holly x