The Motability Lifestyle Pod

In this special episode of The Motability Lifestyle Pod, we're pressing pause on our usual chats to dive into something more topical. You’ve likely seen negative stories in the press about the Motability Scheme, and we want to get to the heart of what’s really going on. Our co-host Samantha Renke sits down with Nigel Fletcher, CEO of the Motability Foundation. At its core, the Scheme is all about...

The team are back with a ‘cracker’ Christmas Special episode! Hosts Sam and Sophie catch up with Great British Bake Off star Tasha Stones and Digby, her hearing dog. They discuss how baking became Tasha's therapy in her teenage years and her experience of being on the Channel 4 show. Tasha shares her top baking tips for the festive season, too. Spoiler alert: don’t make your own pastry! The t...

It’s the final episode of Series 2 of the Motability Lifestyle Podcast with hosts Sophie Marie-Odum, Samantha Renke and Matt Lizzimore. This week’s is slightly different as the team reflects on The Big Event that happened in May. At the event, we asked our lovely listeners to record some questions to be answered on the show, and they did not disappoint! With topics ranging from driving with a disa...

Motability Lifestyle Pod's hosts Sophie-Marie Odum and Samantha Renke welcome author and journalist Lucy Webster. Lucy opens up about her disability, the ableism she has experienced breaking into the journalism industry and how she has overcome it. Lucy has written her first book: 'The View From Down Here', which details, in her witty manner, the struggles she deals with on a daily basis. In the i...

In this episode, Sam and Sophie welcome Isaac Harvey MBE, a prominent disability advocate, content creator and President of Wheels & Wheelchairs. He opens up about his journey into disability advocacy, his upcoming journey to Paris, and what spurs his daredevil activities, including sky diving and wing walking! Isaac also discusses the importance of accepting help and mental health challenges...

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses the topic of ableism and some of the challenges of being a disabled parent. In this week's episode of the Motability Lifestyle Pod, hosted by Sophie-Marie Odum and Samantha Renke, the spotlight is on parenthood, fashion, and travel, with the fabulous Sophie Bradbury-Cox, a mother, fashionista and content creator. They delve into Sophie's journey to motherhoo...

In this week’s episode of the Motability Lifestyle Pod, co-hosts Sophie-Marie Odum and Samantha Renke chat to Director of Charitable Operations at Motability Foundation, Lisa Jones. In this interview, they discuss the impact and importance of the Foundation’s grant programmes on enhancing travel and closing the transport accessibility gap, which currently shows that disabled people make 38% less t...

In our first episode of the season, Sophie and Sam catch up with Phyllida Swift, who is an activist, CEO of Face Equality International and model. Phyllida shares her journey, and discusses the impact of facial differences in society and the media. Additionally, Phyllida also speaks on the significance of community, self-love and the fight against the discrimination of facial differences. Plus: Ma...

The Motability Lifestyle Pod gang are back for a second series!  Expect more laughter, feel-good, uplifting content and incredible guests, discussing how we can all live our best life, particularly when navigating a disabling world. Listen to us in your car, or wherever you like! Or watch us on YouTube with captioned and BSL videos. Hit Subscribe or Follow so you’re sure not to miss a thing,...

The Motability Lifestyle Pod gang are back with a Christmas Special. In this special episode, you, our wonderful listeners, sent in your questions to hosts Samantha Renke, Sophie-Marie Odum, and Matt Lizzimore, keen to know about Christmas traditions, 2023 highlights and 2024 plans. The trio also discuss the importance and significance of International Day of Disabled Persons and UK Disability His...

Since becoming a triple amputee while serving in Afghanistan, Mark Ormrod MBE has been on a mission to spread a message of positivity and resilience. In this episode, he talks about his journey, setting goals in life, and getting back up when things get tough.  Please note that this episodes contains discussions of suicidal thoughts, which some people may find distressing. Follow us on Instag...

With over 2.9 million fans on TikTok, Fats Timbo uses her platform to spread laughter and educate people on questions around disability. In this episode, Fats talks about being propelled from ‘The Undateables’ to featuring in Vogue and writing her first book: 'Main Character Energy: Ten Commandments for living life fearlessly'.  Follow us on Instagram: @Motability_lifestyle_magazine Follow us...

Since electric vehicles (EVs) have come on the scene, few industry leaders had considered accessible charging, so Motability Foundation decided to change this. In this Car Chat takeover episode, Motability Foundation’s Head of Innovation, Catherine Marris, explains how they did it, what an accessible charging point looks like and why the world is turning to the UK for advice.  Please note tha...

After Mike Newman broke multiple world records in blind racing, he decided, together with John Galloway, to give the chance to other blind and disabled people, allowing everyone to experience the power of doing something you were told you would never be able to do, and they set up the charity Speed of Sight. In this episode we learn how it all started; why their racing events can be life changing;...

Dr Hannah Barham-Brown, Disability and Gender Equality Consultant, Speaker and Motability Governor, joins us to give her tips on navigating the challenges that dating with a disability can throw up. She shares her experience of finding love on an online dating app, practicing witty comebacks in the mirror and finding the balance of care within your relationship. Plus: the potential benefits of AI...

We discuss accessible beaches and progress in aviation, and paralympic athlete James Freeman talks about his journey to professional wheelchair racing, receiving the phone call for Tokyo 2020 and how he deals with frustrations and anxiety when the lift breaks.  Follow us on Instagram: @Motability_lifestyle_magazine Follow us on TikTok: @motlifestylemag Watch online: motabilitylifestyle.com/po...

We discuss Lifestyle becoming an award-winning magazine, and reflect on Disability Pride Month 2023. To celebrate 45 years of Motability, we talk to Dominic Lund-Conlon, accessibility and inclusion manager at Rail Delivery Group, about how far we’ve come in making public transport accessible and what the future holds. Plus, Matt talks flying cars – is it finally happening? Watch online: @Motabilit...

The Motability Lifestyle Pod is a brand new podcast series from the team behind Motability’s award-winning Lifestyle magazine. Editor Sophie-Marie Odum teams up with broadcaster, author and disability rights campaigner Samantha Renke to explore what it means to live your best life while navigating a disabling world. Launching on the 31st July. Follow us on Instagram: @Motability_lifestyle_magazine...