Let's Talk Disability - Thinking Intersectionally About the Future
Download MP3Featuring Hannah Murphy & Julian Skyrme | Hosted by Professor Jackie Carter
In this inspiring episode of Let’s Talk Disability, Future Leader graduate Hannah Murphy sits down with Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement, Julian Skyrme, for a moving and honest conversation about chronic pain, hidden conditions, mental health, identity, and what it really means to thrive at the University of Manchester.
Hannah shares the deeply personal journey behind her chronic lower back pain, spinal deformity, hypermobility, chronic anaemia, and long‑term mental health conditions. She talks candidly about years of misdiagnosis, frustration, flare‑ups, exam pressures, fear, resilience and the exhausting cycle of physical pain feeding emotional strain — and vice versa. Her self‑awareness, compassion and determination shine through as she reflects on what it takes to manage her conditions, maintain wellbeing, and build a fulfilling early‑career life.
Julian listens with empathy, curiosity and respect, drawing out powerful insights about hidden disabilities, culture change, allyship, and the importance of psychologically safe conversations between colleagues and managers. Their dialogue touches on universal themes: navigating stigma, asking for help, managing expectations, and the difference that compassionate leadership makes.
One of the most striking threads running through this episode is intersectionality — how class, gender, disability, and lived experience overlap and shape opportunities and challenges. Hannah reflects on being a young working‑class woman with invisible impairments, and how identity affects how she experiences both support and barriers in higher education. Together, she and Julian make a compelling case for embedding intersectionality at the heart of the University’s 2035 strategy.
Listeners will hear rich reflections on:
- the long journey to securing a diagnosis
- self‑management strategies and building resilience
- how supportive line managers and DASS adjustments transformed Hannah’s student and staff experience
- the importance of role modelling, honesty and building trusting teams
- why intersectionality must be central to UoM’s future
- the power of networks, community and shared experience
- the ultimate strength disabled and chronically ill staff bring to the university
As always, the episode concludes with real commitments: Julian pledges to hold disability‑inclusive conversations within his team and work with Hannah to strengthen inclusive leadership practice; Hannah calls for intersectionality to be fully embedded in the University’s 2035 vision.
This is a powerful, uplifting and deeply human conversation — one that reveals not just the challenges of chronic pain, but the strength, clarity and leadership that can grow from it.
A must‑listen for anyone interested in disability inclusion, wellbeing, leadership, or shaping a more equitable university.
Send us your questions or comments to equalityanddiversity@manchester.ac.uk with the subject 'LTD' or connect with Jackie on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjackiecarter
A must‑listen for anyone interested in disability inclusion, wellbeing, leadership, or shaping a more equitable university.
Send us your questions or comments to equalityanddiversity@manchester.ac.uk with the subject 'LTD' or connect with Jackie on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjackiecarter
Listen, learn, and help drive real change—because disability inclusion benefits everyone.
Creators and Guests
Host
Professor Jackie Carter
Academic EDI Lead for Disability, member of the Shaw Trust Power 100 for 2023. Author of Work Placements, Internships & Applied Social Research. Prof of Statistical Literacy. FaCSS, NTF. 1-in-20 Women in Data. Late Bloomer. @GM4Women
Guest
Dr Julian Skyrme
Julian Skyrme is the Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement at The University of Manchester. Manchester is unique in UK higher education for having social responsibility as a core goal and is one of the world's leading institutions for impact towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Julian has three degrees from The University of Manchester: a BA in Political Philosophy, Economics and Social Sciences (first-class honours); an MA degree in Social Research (distinction); and a Doctor of Education (EdD) in educational policy and philosophy. After qualifying as a teacher, Julian spent his early career as Head of Social Sciences and Assistant Vice-Principal in a large inner-city Sixth Form College. He later became The University of Manchester's first Head of Widening Participation in 2004 and its first full-time Director of Social Responsibility in 2012. Julian is the first person in his family to benefit from university and is passionate about its social purpose and accessibility. He contributes to local, national and international policies, initiatives and networks to enhance the social engagement of higher education. He contributes to: Manchester City Council's Strategic Education Partnership Board and Homelessness Partnership Board; the Board of Manchester's Loreto Sixth Form College; the Board of Trustees at MACC – Manchester's voluntary, community and social enterprise support organisation; and Business in the Community's (BITC) North-West Leadership Board. He's also a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, keen guitarist, everyday cyclist, Manchester United and Wales fan, and father to two children.
