The Shifting Perspectives Podcast

Luke is 25 and a huge Manchester United fan. He is in paid employment, goes to college, and loves watching the soaps on TV. Last year, he fell head over heels in love with his girlfriend Emily, and tells Richard about his hopes for wedding bells in the future.

Tommy Jessop is acting royalty. He stole the show at the National Television Awards show in September by dancing live on stage, and gave a star performance as Terry Boyle in the BBC's hugely popular series 'Line of Duty'. In this episode, Tommy talks to Richard about his amazing career to date, his thoughts on diversity in the arts, and his personal ambition to become the next James Bond.

Ann Cleeves is an award-winning crime writer whose books have been brought to life on the television. Her novels were dramatised as the TV detective series Vera, in which actor Daniel Laurie, who has Down's syndrome, played character Adam Beecher. The BBC also adapted her Shetland series into a popular drama, and now her book The Long Call, has just been aired on ITV. In it, actor Sarah Gordy plays one of the main characters. So in this special podcast, we’ve handed the mic over to Sarah to interview Ann herself. They chat about Ann’s career, inspiration, and some very interesting jobs she’s done in the past.

Claire Harris and Abigail Clay are sisters who both love acting. They previously made a film together called possABILITY about finding employment for people who have Down’s syndrome. Claire is also a keen swimmer and football player, and Abigail has recently started a drama group called Shakespeare 21 for adults who have Down's syndrome. The siblings discuss what they’ve been up to during lockdown and their plans for the future. Watch possABILITY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2GTHbmKlBU Read more about Shakespeare 21: http://www.abigailclay.com/shakespeare-21.html

Caitlin Trevor is an incredibly busy young woman. The 17-year-old has been studying for her GCSEs and a BTEC, and loves art, landscape photography and drama. She has collected more than 120 medals for swimming and wants to be a swimming coach and classroom assistant in the future. She speaks alongside her father Mark and the pair tell us how they’ve taken up running together over the pandemic. Check out Caitlin's cards here: https://www.thealliumcollection.com/

Jack chats to Richard about living semi-independently (and enjoying the cleaning!) keeping up two jobs as a waiter, winning numerous gold medals, and his dream of becoming a public speaker.

We find out how filming for their full-length documentary has taken the brothers from Cornwall, to India, Vietnam and beyond. We chat about what it’s like travelling together, living together, and most importantly, we get all the gossip from their adventures, as they spread the message about what they call ‘up-syndrome’.

"Live life to the max!" is very much Ophir’s mantra. The twenty-something Londoner tells us about leaving home, working two jobs, keeping up a long-distance relationship, and a very special moment she shared with her absolute favourite popstar, Jessie J.

Two years ago Jane co-founded Step And Stone, an artisan bakery making lavosh flat breads, working with young people with learning disabilities to develop their skills and confidence so they can eventually find employment in the mainstream catering world.

Richard and Ian discuss fatherhood and family life. Ian's six year old son Arran has Down's syndrome and is at a mainstream primary school. He talks to Richard about being Arran's dad, family life and walking the Wainwrights.