Words Fail Me: A podcast about thriving with dyslexia

Our guest this week is the athlete, make-up artist and BDA Dyslexia & Dementia Ambassador Adelle Tracey. She has represented GB at different age levels for more than a decade and is the current 800m national champion. And since the recording of this episode Adelle has now officially become a Jamaican athlete - many congratulations to her! A torchbearer at the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony she was picked by Kelly Holmes to light the Olympic Cauldron. This podcast was funded by the National Lottery Community fund and EPIC Projects or Ecumenical Project for International Cooperation EPIC is a USA-based, non-profit organization. EPIC creates bonds among caring people devoted to solving global challenges of poverty, food insecurity, environmental degradation, human rights, and making peace. Go to their website epicprojects.org Head to www.epicprojects.org to learn about the valuable work they do in South America supporting community education, human rights, promoting peace and ecological farming.

Este es un episodio especial de Words Fail Me, Las palabras me fallan, grabado en español ¡para nuestros oyentes de lengua hispana! Presentado por Lorea Acebes. Nuestro invitado hoy es el fundador y presentador del podcast “Consejo de varón”. El paso por la escuela de Oscar suena a una historia a menudo familiar para los disléxicos. La escuela secundaria estuvo marcada para él por un incidente: la habilidad de Oscar programando computadoras significó que él podía enseñar codificación a todos sus compañeros. Por el trabajo todos recibieron la máxima calificación, una “A”, pero Oscar como tenía faltas de ortografía sólo recibió una “B”. Durante sus años en Olympia, Washington, Oscar obtuvo una licenciatura en Ingeniería Mecánica con especialidad en Robótica por la Universidad del Estado de Washington. Después de terminar la universidad se convirtió en un exitoso gerente de inversión de capital gestionando proyectos tanto en los Estados Unidos como en México. El objetivo de su podcast es empoderar a los hombres latinos para el éxito, construyendo un legado y realizándose espiritualmente. Este podcast está financiado gracias a la ayuda del fondo comunitario de la Lotería Nacional de Reino Unido y a proyectos EPIC, Proyecto Ecuménico para la Cooperación Internacional. EPIC es una organización sin ánimo de lucro establecida en los Estados Unidos. EPIC crea lazos entre personas solidarias dedicadas a resolver los desafíos globales de la pobreza, la inseguridad alimentaria, la degradación ambiental, los derechos humanos y la paz. Dirígete a www.epicprojects.org para conocer el valioso trabajo que realizan en América del Sur apoyando la educación comunitaria, los derechos humanos, la promoción de la paz y la agricultura ecológica. www.dyslexiafoundation.co.uk

Our guest today is the founder and host of the Consejo de Varon Podcast, Oscar Armendariz. Oscar’s schooling is a very familiar story for dyslexics, typified by one incident in high school: Oscar’s skill with computer programming meant he could teach the entire class how to code – for which they all received A’s - but Oscar’s spelling meant he only received a B. Growing up in Olympia, Washington, Oscar gained a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering with a major in Robotics from Washington State University. After leaving university he went on to become a successful Capital Investment Manager, managing projects in the US and Mexico. The aim of his podcast is to empower Latino men to success, building a legacy and spiritual fulfilment. This podcast was funded by the National Lottery Community fund and EPIC Projects or Ecumenical Project for International Cooperation.EPIC is a USA-based, non-profit organization. EPIC creates bonds among caring people devoted to solving global challenges of poverty, food insecurity, environmental degradation, human rights, and making peace. Go to their website epicprojects.org Head to www.epicprojects.org to learn about the valuable work they do in South America supporting community education, human rights, promoting peace and ecological farming. www.dyslexiafoundation.co.uk

Our guest for this week’s episode is the Solicitor and first-tier Tribunal judge, Nadine Clarkson.In school Nadine received very little support for her dyslexia. In fact, her headmistresses didn’t believe dyslexia was real. Despite this, she gained 12 GCSEs was put onto an Oxbridge entry class – but again did not have the support a dyslexic needs to complete the A levels needed for successful Oxbridge entry. She eventually studied law to become a barrister. Once graduated she found herself wanting to be part of cases which help change the lives of many and not just the individual in the case. To do this as soon as possible after qualifying she transferred and qualified as a solicitor with higher court advocacy rights.She worked for eight years as a solicitor and had eight reported cases, including two successes in the European Court of Justice and one in the House of Lords, the precursor to the Supreme Court.After having her children, she felt she could not work the hours required and look for an alternative career and decided to apply to the judiciary. She was appointed as a first-tier Tribunal judge in social security and have worked in this area for the past 11 years.This podcast was funded by the National Lottery Community fund and EPIC Projects or Ecumenical Project for International Cooperation EPIC is a USA-based, non-profit organization. EPIC creates bonds among caring people devoted to solving global challenges of poverty, food insecurity, environmental degradation, human rights, and making peace. Go to their website epicprojects.orgHead to www.epicprojects.org to learn about the valuable work they do in South America supporting community education, human rights, promoting peace and ecological farming. www.dyslexiafoundation.co.uk

Jack Churchill is the CEO and co-founder of the assistive technology supplier, Scanning Pens. Jack and his university friend Toby Sutton started Scanning Pens company back in 2003.Jack wants to make sure both adults and children across the world within the neurodivergent community have the necessary tools to read confidently.They are committed to finding new ways to help those with neurodiversity work and learn with confidence.He is also the chair of the Global Special Interest group for the British Assistive Technology Association or the BATA.This podcast was funded by the National Lottery Community fund and EPIC Projects or Ecumenical Project for International Cooperation EPIC is a USA-based, non-profit organization. EPIC creates bonds among caring people devoted to solving global challenges of poverty, food insecurity, environmental degradation, human rights, and making peace. Go to their website epicprojects.orgHead to www.epicprojects.org to learn about the valuable work they do in South America supporting community education, human rights, promoting peace and ecological farming. www.dyslexiafoundation.co.uk

Prior to Margaret's work within the dyslexic community she studied as a HR and training manager. Her company, Malpas Flexible Learning, trained the largest number of HR Managers in the UK and internationally. She believes the one in seven people in the UK who have a learning disability can, with the right support, propose creative solutions to the many issues we face today as a society; climate change, education, politics and recovering from the pandemic. Check out her brilliant book - Self-fulfilment with Dyslexia: A Blueprint for Success This podcast was funded by the National Lottery Community fund and EPIC Projects or Ecumenical Project for International Cooperation EPIC is a USA-based, non-profit organization. EPIC creates bonds among caring people devoted to solving global challenges of poverty, food insecurity, environmental degradation, human rights, and making peace. Go to their website epicprojects.org Head to www.epicprojects.org to learn about the valuable work they do in South America supporting community education, human rights, promoting peace and ecological farming. www.dyslexiafoundation.co.uk

We are blessed to have Jodie Steele as our guest this week. Jodie is a titan of the West End musical scene. Having played Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, Katherine Howard in ‘Six’ and most recently Heather in ‘Heathers’. She has an incredible voice and an irrepressible effervescent energy. Not only is she an accomplished performer, singer and dancer but a fully qualified PT and teacher. This podcast was funded by the National Lottery Community fund and EPIC Projects or Ecumenical Project for International Cooperation EPIC is a USA-based, non-profit organization. EPIC creates bonds among caring people devoted to solving global challenges of poverty, food insecurity, environmental degradation, human rights, and making peace. Go to their website epicprojects.org. Head to www.epicprojects.org to learn about the valuable work they do in South America supporting community education, human rights, promoting peace and ecological farming. www.dyslexiafoundation.co.uk

Matt always suspected he was dyslexic, struggling at school with words and specifically word placement. He excelled in numbers however and was sure he would step into the world of business after he finished studying Philosophy, Economics and Politics at Exeter College, Oxford. But after working for the Bank of England he entered politics in 2010 and has since become the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary and most recently the Health Secretary in the pandemic – overseeing the most turbulent time for public health in living memory. This podcast is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and Epic Projects.Head to www.epicprojects.org to learn about the valuable work they do in South America supporting community education, human rights, promoting peace and ecological farming. www.dyslexiafoundation.co.ukWe experienced connectivity issues during the recording of this episode so you will notice a change in sound quality near the start - fortunately for the better.

Dean Bragonier is the Founder and Executive Dyslexic of NoticeAbility Inc, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students with dyslexia identify their unique strengths and build self-esteem. NoticeAbility is the culmination of Dean’s passion for education and his conviction that the advantages of dyslexia far outweigh its associated challenges. Check out his TED talk here - https://youtu.be/_dPyzFFcG7A This podcast is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and Epic Projects.Head to www.epicprojects.org to learn about the valuable work they do in South America supporting community education, human rights, promoting peace and ecological farming. www.dyslexiafoundation.co.uk

Glenn: Author, historian and disability activist. By using the skills he learned from radical politics in the fire of 1960s America, he rose to become the national expert on learning disabilities in adulthood for the U.S. Government. His own diagnosis came at the age of thirty when he was also diagnosed with ADHD. As a result of his work, he became well known nationally and internationally as a lecturer on learning difficulty issues. Glenn was the inspiration for the emergence and success of the Dyslexia Foundation in 2001-2 and continues to mentor the CEO of The Dyslexia Foundation to this day. This podcast is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and Epic Projects. Head to www.epicprojects.org to learn about the valuable work they do in South America supporting community education, human rights, promoting peace and ecological farming. www.dyslexiafoundation.co.uk

Tasha is a highly experienced broadcast journalist and reporter. She has recently become one of Granada Reports' newest reporters, having previously worked at the BBC across various news programmes, from Panorama to Radio Five Live and more recently Newsround. As a self professed advocate for social equality she specialises in making films for underserved youth audiences. Find out more at dyslexia-help.org

Harvey’s media company, Captured Time Productions, has For almost three decades, created feature length documentaries and short form projects which have won almost 60 festival awards - including four Emmys.Harvey’s idiosyncratic visual sense found a natural outlet in filmmaking, a natural auteur film has given his out-of-the-box creativity a home as a writer,producer and visual storyteller. In 2013, Captured Time released Dislecksia: The Movie, Harvey’s passion project seven years in the making. It’s a documentary feature that focuses on the serious and seriously misunderstood subject of dyslexia with his trademark humour and lightness. Funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund (distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund) has helped the Dyslexia Foundation make this podcast. Find out more at dyslexia-help.org

Her extensive credits in the highest sphere of the Opera world are too extensive to list. Suffice to say she has worked all over the world with some of the most illustrious Opera companies and Venues in Italy, the UK and Australia. She is an alumna and graduate of the Royal Opera House’s Jette Parker Young Artist programme, the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio. She is also deeply passionate about nurturing new talent and gives masterclasses at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin as well as coaching at the Royal Academy Opera Course in London. Funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund (distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund) has helped the Dyslexia Foundation make this podcast. Find out more at dyslexia-help.org

Ep 20. is with the CEO of Vessels of Hope, Dr Tracy Johnson. Tracy is a self professed lover of learning. Now a teacher and lecturer herself it was her innate curiosity and pervading love of knowledge which served as a beacon of hope in the problematic circumstances of her schooling. Underfunding, teachers insufficiently aware of the problems a dyslexic child faces and insensitive class mates were just a few obstacles she had to navigate. She uses the pain she endured to help children and adults with dyslexia avoid those same hardships. Vessels of Hope is a non profit organisation Tracy founded to help support similarly low income individuals with learning differences particularly with dyslexia. They lead workshops, spread awareness and empower children and adults with dyslexia. Funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund (distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund) has helped the Dyslexia Foundation make this podcast. Find out more at dyslexia-help.org

This episode is with Finance Executive and Social Innovator Joan Bohan. While working at Disney Joan set up the Dis-Ne Network to help dyslexic employee’s realise their full potential. Doing this work was the happiest of her professional life. Which is exactly why she decided to continue that work with Social Innovation, Inc. In her words, she is not ‘reinventing the wheel’ but aiming to help businesses pick the low hanging fruit in order to ensure all their employees reach their full potential. Funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund (distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund) has helped the Dyslexia Foundation make this podcast. Find out more at dyslexia-help.org