Ouch – the cabin fever podcas‪t‬ BBC

Kate Monaghan has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and her wife Holly is immunocompromised, meaning a year of shielding with two young children has been anything but easy!

But recent government announcements mean it's all about to change again for this family – one-year-old Gracie is starting nursery and four-year-old Scout is going back to school.

And it's a bag of mixed emotions for these two Mummas - relief at the idea of normality and an end to home-schooling (yay!) but also fears about sending their babies into the big wide world alone....

Produced by Amy Elizabeth

Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
If you want to message Kate or ask her a question, email amy.elizabth@bbc.co.uk

With an end now possibly in sight, Kate feels she's letting Holly down. Her painful mobility issues are causing real problems for her this week - she desperately wants to play with the kids but having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome means that even cuddles are a bit too much sometimes.

Home-schooling a four-year-old and entertaining a one-year-old leaves Kate physically and emotionally exhausted, but doesn't her wife deserve some attention too?

Produced by Amy Elizabeth.

Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.
If you want to message Kate or ask her a question, email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk

Dating can be tricky at the best of times, but it can come with a unique set of challenges if you have a learning disability and are LGBT.

Ben Hunte, the BBC's LGBT correspondent, speaks to three people with learning disabilities and explores the social care barriers faced by the community.

Shaun describes how a lack of sex education at special school meant it took him a decade to come out as bisexual. Now he teaches the subject to other people with learning disabilities.

Ray talks about awkward encounters on dating apps and the challenges of navigating trans healthcare with a learning disability.

And Scott tells Ben about the prejudice he faces as a gay man with learning disabilities and why he joined an organisation called Meet and Match.

Producer Ammar Ebrahim
Studio Manager Robbie Hayward

Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say “Ask the BBC for Ouch” to your smart speaker.

After immune-compromised Holly had her vaccine last week, Kate has now been called to get hers. Excitement levels are high but she wonders how her body will react to the jab.

Meanwhile, keeping four-year-old Scout and one-year-old Gracie amused is a struggle, until snow brings some welcome fun.

Produced by Amy Elizabeth.

If you want to message Kate or ask her a question, email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk.

Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say “Ask the BBC for Ouch” to your smart speaker.

After almost a year of shielding, Holly gets her Covid-19 vaccination.

What's the process once you arrive at the center? How do you feel afterwards? If a family member sidles in, might they get a spare jab if they're lucky?

Stand by to live vicariously through Holly and hear one ELATED family!

Produced by Amy Elizabeth

Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.

If you want to message Kate or ask her a question, email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk

Seaneen Molloy and Mark Brown return with their witty and self-depricating take on mental health. They draw on their personal and professional experiences to talk about the awkward stuff so "you don't have to".

This month they discuss feeling shame which Mark describes as his "personal existential musk".

Seaneen shares what happened when her first child was born as she prepares to give birth again but this time in a pandemic. And The Book of Awkward Questions asks how to tell a new partner your mental health story.

You can hear Mark and Seaneen monthly on the Ouch podcast stream along with Ouch's other programmes. Tell your pals, tell the world and get involved.

Producer Emma Tracey

Write to Mark and Seaneen, they want to hear from you. ouch@bbc.co.uk