Changes with Annie Macmanus

Casey Armstrong defied the odds of many young care leavers but her experience with foster care came at a huge personal cost. Entering foster care at fourteen after a turbulent upbringing, Casey didn’t realise the clock was ticking before she would be forced to leave her stable foster home. Due to something called the Care Cliff, Casey was expected to be independent at eighteen. The relationships and support she knew suddenly ended and her life fell apart. Now, 5 years later Casey is at University studying Astrophysics, a subject that inspired her to change her life. However, her journey could have been different and she desperately wants to see change in the care system. Here, she talks to Annie about her experience before and after going into care, what she endured due to the Care Cliff and how, despite this, she managed to change her life for the better. Content warning: multiple references to attempted suicide. Thank you to Become Charity for partnering us with Casey (The charity for children in care and young care leavers). The charity is campaigning to end the Care Cliff. You can find out more about Become Charity here: https://becomecharity.org.uk/Should you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, in the UK, The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. Hotlines in other countries can be found here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We give you global superstar Idris Elba. Idris is an award-winning actor, a film director, a producer, a DJ and rapper, entrepreneur, podcaster, UN goodwill ambassador, kickboxer, the list goes on. Suffice to say this is a man who is comfortable with change. Or is he?In this conversation Idris zooms in on the big changes in his life, being sickly as a child, moving schools, discovering acting, becoming a father, starting therapy, and the bigger changes in his professional life, namely the SAG-AFTRA strikes and how streaming has changed things for working actors. Viva le Idris! Enjoy!Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lorraine Candy does not mess around when it comes to midlife and the menopause. In this impassioned episode, her heartfelt desire for sharing information about both, including HRT and how society views women’s pain, is palpable. Lorraine is the former Editor in Chief of Elle, Cosmopolitan and the Sunday Times Style, now co-host of the podcast ‘Postcards from Midlife’ and author of ‘What’s Wrong With Me: 101 Things Midlife Women Need To Know’. Midlife is often a huge period of great change for women, whether it’s yourself or someone you know. Lorraine, like many women, has been through seismic changes - from leaving her career after 30 years, seeing her children leave home and experiencing perimenopause.Here, she talks to Annie about these changes, how they materialise, the Void, changing systems, societal expectations and ultimately how to navigate what can be a destabilising period and come through invigorated. You can buy Lorraine’s books and find her other content here:https://linktr.ee/lcandyclubChanges is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I am the girl accused of murder”. Amanda Knox is an exoneree, a writer, activist and podcaster. In 2007, when she was 20, Amanda was studying abroad in Italy when her roommate, British student Meredith Kercher, was raped and murdered. Meredith was 21 years old. Amanda was arrested and vilified by the press. She spent the following 8 years either on trial or in prison, for a crime she didn’t commit. Here, Amanda talks about how her life has changed, including surviving prison with a 26-year sentence, how Meredith's death and her own story are able to coexist, being blamed for her own wrongful conviction and how she navigates life today. You can listen to Amanda’s podcast Labyrinths here:https://www.knoxrobinson.com/labyrinths.htmlChanges is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changesShould you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. You can also contact Mind on 0300 123 3393 or head to mind.org.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The number of adults receiving an ADHD diagnosis has skyrocketed in recent years. In one of the most popular episodes ever of Changes, Annie’s husband Tom Bell (AKA music producer Toddla T) shared his experience of being diagnosed with ADHD. Eighteen months on the couple get back together to see what’s changed for him (and them) since. However, this time, to get a female perspective on ADHD, Annie and T are also later joined by multi-award-winning comedian, writer, podcaster, and film-maker, Josie Long. Josie was diagnosed with ADHD in lockdown when she was trying for her second child. Josie has had nine critically acclaimed tours, has made series for Radio 4 and has comedy specials on Amazon Prime (Cara Josephine) and Netflix (Something Better).In this frank and hilarious episode, Josie and T both discuss living with ADHD and how it shows up for them in different and similar ways, how they manage it around family life and how a diagnosis has changed their opinion of themselves and their relationships. Josie is touring the UK with her brand-new show ‘Re-Enchantment’ till the end of October this year. Tickets are available at josielong.com. There, you can also get a copy of her book of short stories called ‘Because I Don’t Know What You Mean and What You Don’t’.You can stream all of Toddla T’s music on streaming platforms and find his YouTube channel here: Toddla T You Tube.The original Changes episode with Toddla T is here.Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changesYou may find the following resources useful:https://adhdaware.org.uk/what-is-adhd/getting-nhs-diagnosis/https://aadduk.org/help-support/specialists-support-and-coaches/Should you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. You can also contact Mind on 0300 123 3393 or head to mind.org.uk.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are starting series 10 with a bang. Described as the “voice of the 21st Century” by the Sunday Times, the multi award winning author Zadie Smith is back with a brand new novel, ‘The Fraud’. Zadie's first historical novel, the book is inspired by a legal trial dividing Victorian Britain looking at truth and fiction, Jamaica and Britain. It’s a great excuse to get Zadie back on Changes to talk about her biggest life changes and the changes she'd like to see. Zadie Smith became famous and hugely praised aged 24 for her debut novel ‘White Teeth’. She is also the author of ‘The Autograph Man’, ‘On Beauty’, ‘NW’ and ‘Swing Time’, among others. Two years ago, Zadie appeared on Changes in lockdown, around the release of her collection of short stories ‘Intimations’. Then, she talked about the major changes from the pandemic and moving from New York to London during that time. In this episode, we go back to the start as she shares personal stories from her time at school and University, talks openly about her childhood and family, what freedom means and looks at the reasoning and history behind her incredible new novel ‘The Fraud’.As with her writing, Zadie has an encapsulating and wise way of speaking that you can’t help feeling reassured by. She is a voice of reason and makes you look at life in a whole new way. ‘The Fraud’ is out on Thursday 7th September. You can pre order / buy the book here:https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/308246/the-fraud-by-smith-zadie/9780241336991Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changesVOTE FOR CHANGES!If you love the podcast, please vote for Changes in the British Podcast Awards here:https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women’s football is more popular than ever. One key player leading the change is England captain Leah Williamson. Her mum had to pretend to be a boy to play football and Leah had to play on a boys' team as a young girl. Yet, a year ago today, Leah captained the Lionesses to victory in the UEFA Women's Euros 2022 and again, this year, in the Finalissima against Brazil. The team's success has changed the landscape of women’s football. This year, as the World Cup gets underway, Leah has had to change her goals after an ACL injury meant she can't join the England team in Australia and New Zealand.Here, as the World Cup kicks off, Leah talks about life not always going to plan, changing tactics and mindset, commitment to change in the face of resistance, family, what she’s learnt about winning and losing, the challenges and discrepancies in football and ultimately how football has changed her. You can order Leah's books here: https://www.waterstones.com/author/leah-williamson/611710Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changesVOTE FOR CHANGES!If you love the podcast, please vote for Changes in the British Podcast Awards here:https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angela Hartnett has become one of the most high-profile women in the restaurant world. Now, as well as running her many restaurants, she has turned her hand to podcasting as the co-host of the Waitrose podcast ‘Dish’ with Nick Grimshaw. Having first studied history, Angela went on to work for Gordon Ramsey for 17 years, despite many of her male colleagues thinking she would last a week or two at most, something she discusses here. She got her first Michelin star at The Connaught in London in 2004 and opened her restaurant Murano in Mayfair in 2008, winning a Michelin star within 4 months of opening. In 2022 she was awarded an OBE for services to the hospitality industry and the NHS during Covid. Here, Angela gets personal and shares her biggest changes covering family, reactions to change and winning people over, when she decided to go it alone, the hardest challenges she has faced, her wedding and of course her new friendship with Annie’s mutual friend Nick Grimshaw.You can listen to the podcast Dish here:https://podfollow.com/1626354833/viewYou can watch the documentary “Gordon Ramsay - Trouble at the Top: A New Menu, Angela Hartnett” which Annie and Angela discuss here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA791WOIehMVOTE FOR CHANGES!If you love the podcast, please vote for Changes in the British Podcast Awards here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is one of our favourite episodes. An Irish writer, Louise Kennedy is funny boned and great craic, with a remarkable life story to tell.  Louise grew up in Belfast before moving when her family's pub was targeted with bombs twice. A chef for 30 years, Louise was dragged along reluctantly by a friend to a writing group and her life changed. Inspired by her own experiences in Northern Ireland, Louise’s debut novel ‘Trespasses’ is a love story between a protestant and a catholic set in a small town near Belfast in 1975 at the height of The Troubles. It became a number 1 bestseller, was novel of the year for publications like the Times and the Guardian, won The British Book Awards Book Of The Year for Debut Fiction, the An Post Irish Book Awards Novel Of The Year 2022, was shortlisted for the Women's Prize of Fiction 2023 and many more. Here, Louise catches up with Annie about the stories from her childhood in Belfast and the huge transitions that have happened in her life, including a cancer diagnosis. In typical Irish fashion, Louise is hilariously self-deprecating and despite her huge success and challenges plays everything down with a wit and humour that will make you laugh out loud at times. You may even be inspired to take up something new, you never know what could happen. You can buy Louise’s book ‘Trespasses’ here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trespasses-Louise-Kennedy-ebook/dp/B09G1MHJFM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Young has dealt with huge changes both in his personal and professional life. The original Pop Idol winner turned writer and actor has had eight albums, four of which went to number one, won two brit awards and a Laurence Olivier nomination for his performance in Cabaret in the West End. He is currently starring in the one man play Song From Far Away at Hampstead Theatre in London and hosts his own podcast 'The Wellbeing Lab’ which discusses mental health and wellbeing. He's also written five books including 'Anything is Possible', 'To Be a Gay Man' and 'Be Yourself and Happier, the A-Z of Wellbeing'.In this compelling episode, Will talks to Annie about his relationship with change, snobbery in music, courage and standing up to Simon Cowell, his childhood at boarding school, learning boundaries, his brother's suicide and his search for joy. You can listen to The Wellbeing Lab here:https://podfollow.com/1614065266/viewContent warning: this episode discusses suicide. Should you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, in the UK, The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. Hotlines in other countries can be found here.  Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zoë Colville has gone from high end hairdresser in London to shepherdess on a farm in Kent. She’s also changed from a vegetarian to a farmer learning about death and going to abattoirs, an experience which surprised her. Far from being your typical farmer, with her trademark long curly red hair and gold hoop earrings as well as her humour and honesty, she has challenged people’s views of farmers and their relationship with the animals. In turn, despite many personal hurdles, she has found her purpose. Using her Instagram account, The Chief Shepherdess, Zoë shares stories from the farm and wants to educate people on how animals are reared and how farming is changing. Here, she talks about all of this, why she made her drastic life change, her relationship with her fiancé Kriss and the unexpected events in her life that have transformed her. You can buy a copy of Zoë’s book “The Chief Shepherdess, Lessons in Life, Love and Farming” here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-chief-shepherdess/zoe-colville/9781787635746Content warning: includes a detailed explanation of how animals are slaughtered.Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Change is equal to hope”. Shiva Mahbobi has never lost hope for change in Iran. At the age of 12, living in Iran, Shiva was arrested for campaigning for women’s rights. At just 16 she was imprisoned and tortured for over 3 years. Over 25 years later, in 2022, huge protests were sparked in Iran and around the world after it was reported that a 22 year old Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, died after being beaten by police for allegedly violating Iran’s strict rules by not wearing a hijab. Women in Iran burnt their hijabs, cut their hair and people took to the streets to demonstrate. Shiva knows their anger all too well and has worked tirelessly as an activist to make a difference. Once released from prison, Shiva sought asylum in Turkey before moving to Canada and eventually the UK where she lives now. Here, she is the spokesperson for the Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran, which she co-founded. Last week, 20th of June, was an annual International day of action to support political prisoners in Iran. Here, Shiva talks to Annie about the reality in Iran for women and children, her own experiences as a child campaigner, in prison and solitary confinement, her own frustrations and family, her work as an activist and a psychotherapist, making change in Iran and how we can help. Content warning: references to physical abuse and torture, rape and mass killings.If you would like to help and Take Action by sending an email to the UK Foreign and Common Wealth Office (FCO) and/or your MP, you can find a template here: https://cfppi.org/take-action-2/Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“If I’d done this three years ago, I’d have been getting through it without revealing anything”. Josh Widdicombe is a changed man. The hilarious podcast Parenting Hell, which Josh co-hosts with fellow comedian Rob Beckett, has become a sensation. It’s changed him as well as the conversation around men being parents.  Described as an “ace observationist” by the Guardian, Josh is also known for being a star of Channel 4’s The Last Leg and this year has released a brand-new Sky Max series Hold the Front Page with co-star Nish Kumar. In this episode, he talks openly to Annie about being an obsessive child and his journey to comedy, how he dealt with his wife's labour, becoming a parent (of course), how he has changed since starting Parenting Hell and his very recent decision to go sober. Expect chat about Great Expectations and park poos, what else would you want? You can buy a copy of Parenting Hell here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parenting-Hell-funniest-gift-Fathers/dp/1788707478/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=And find more about what Josh is up to and links to his memoir here: https://www.joshwiddicombe.com/Should you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode around alcohol, in the UK, The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. Hotlines in other countries can be found here. Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura Bates has dedicated her life to addressing gender inequality. She is the founder of the Everyday Sexism Project and a Sunday Times Bestselling author. Laura has released five books including Girl Up, Misogynation, Men Who Hate Women and her most recent book, Fix the System, Not the Women. She works closely with politicians, businesses, schools, police forces and organisations from the Council of Europe to the United Nations to tackle gender inequality. Here, Laura talks to Annie about the problem with today’s systems, shocking stories and statistics highlighted in her book and on the Everyday Sexism website, the ways her own life has changed doing this work, our relationship dynamics and how they can change, education, parenting and much more. No doubt every woman will recognise aspects of this conversation and everyone (of all genders) can learn something from it. Content warning:  sexual abuse, rape and violent threats are all mentioned.You can buy Laura’s book and find out about Everyday Sexism and her other work here: https://linktr.ee/laura_bates__The organisations which Laura mentions are here:Centre for Women’s Justice: https://www.centreforwomensjustice.org.uk/Rights of Women: https://rightsofwomen.org.uk/Level Up: https://www.welevelup.org/Women for Women: https://www.womenforwomen.orgChanges is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louis Theroux tells stories about what it is to be human. His unique documentaries explore the darker corners of the human condition, from cults and porn to eating disorders and dementia. After being given a break on Michael Moore’s TV Nation in America, Louis began his long career at the BBC with the BAFTA winning Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends and When Louis Met…, which included that much discussed Jimmy Saville episode. Louis’ trademark informal and non-judgmental style has led to a cult following. Other award-winning specials include The Most Hated Family in America, Miami Mega Jail, Altered States and the feature-length documentary, My Scientology Movie. More recently, Louis has interviewed celebrities in his BBC podcast Grounded and TV series Louis Theroux Interviews… which featured Dame Judi Dench and Stormzy. Tomorrow, he launches a brand-new Spotify podcast, The Louis Theroux Podcast.Here, Louis joins Annie in her Kitchen in London to talk about life as a father, boarding school, family, his response to achievements, pushing the limits in TV including criticisms and personas, his curiosities and traits, how he has changed and how he wants to change, interviewing methods and so much more. It’s a true insight into the man most of us just know from the television. The Louis Theroux Podcast is available for free exclusively on Spotify, with new episodes weekly from 6th June.Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you change your relationship with success? Writer and podcaster Emma Gannon has written a new book called ‘The Success Myth’ which, for one, has changed how Annie looks at her life. After experiencing burn out, Emma has become even more passionate about debunking the traditional ideas of success.  Emma is a Sunday Times bestselling author with five books to date, including The Multi-Hyphen Method, Sabotage, Disconnected and her novel Olive. In 2018, she was selected in the Forbes 30 under 30 list in media. She has been a columnist for the Times, the Telegraph and Elle and also writes a popular weekly newsletter on SubStack called The Hyphen that is an exploration of ideas that have got her thinking in new ways. Through her careers podcast ‘Ctrl, Alt, Delete’ she has spoken to hundreds of people about their work and idea of success. Clearly, Emma is successful. However, she found that traditional markers of success did not make her happy. So, what was the problem? In this conversation, Emma discusses helpful things she’s learnt about changing our idea of success, burn out, her decision to not have children and much more. You can buy The Success Myth here: https://linktr.ee/thesuccessmythFind out more about all of Emma's projects here: https://linktr.ee/emmagannonukChanges is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rosie Jones is an unstoppable force. Describing herself as a triple threat - disabled, gay and female, she is changing the world. A stand up comic, children’s author, TV writer and actor with cerebral palsy - Rosie challenges perceptions of people with disabilities (and people from Yorkshire). She has appeared on countless TV shows including 8 out of 10 cats, Would I Lie to You?, The Last Leg and Live at the Apollo. Her Channel 4 travel show Trip Hazard is BAFTA nominated. She has also written for Netflix’s Sex Education, wrote and starred in Channel 4’s Disability Benefits and has a new documentary for them on the way about ableism and abuse. Her books, the adventures of Edie Eckhart are about a young girl with cerebral palsy. Currently, she is touring the UK with her show Triple Threat. In this beautifully frank episode of Changes, Rosie speaks to Annie about growing up and living with cerebral palsy and how she has dealt with her disability (even as a 4 year old), the impact of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, activism and comedy, being gay, handling relationships and of course, making change. Please enjoy the legendary Rosie Jones. You can find out more about Rosie and book tickets to her show here: https://rosiejonescomedy.com/Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the release of ‘The Mess We’re In’, the tables are turning and, for the first time on Changes, your host Annie Macmanus is the interviewee. Annie’s new novel, which is out now, is laced into her own life experience and changes. It’s a coming-of-age story with themes about moving from Ireland to London. So, the interviewer had to be someone who can relate, someone who is Irish, a fellow Dubliner who also currently lives in London; enter one of Ireland's best, a former guest on Changes, the wonderful comedian and host of the podcast My Therapist Ghosted me, Joanne McNally. It’s the first interview Joanne has ever done and we thought she nailed it. Together, Joanne and Annie chat about the novel, being Irish abroad, Annie’s biggest changes going right back to being a teenager on a different trajectory to DJing and writing, re discovering her childhood journals, having children as a female DJ, leaving BBC Radio 1 after 17 years, the yearn for Ireland, wanting to feel settled and so much more. There’s plenty of laughs along the way. Huge thanks go to Joanne for popping her interviewing cherry for Changes.You can buy ‘The Mess We’re In’ now here: https://geni.us/TheMessWereInChanges is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changesYou can listen back to Joanne McNally's Changes episode here: https://play.acast.com/s/findingannie/joanne-mc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you change yourself and heal from your past? Dr LePera believes so. With 6.6 million followers on Instagram, she has become the leading voice in psychological self-healing. Her accessible advice has been deemed life changing by many. Dr LePera’s first book How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Yourself was an international bestseller recently followed by her new book How To Meet Yourself: the Workbook for Self Discovery. After qualifying as a clinical psychologist and running her own practice in Philadelphia, where she was born, Dr LePera actively pursued a new methodology based on the integration of the mind, the soul and the body called holistic psychology. She took her ideas online and created a self-healers circle with members all over the world. As part of her work, Dr Lepera has shared her own healing journey, including removing herself from her family for a period of time. She also recently announced that she is in a throuple with her wife Lolly and new partner Jenna who she hosts a podcast with called Self Healers Soundboard. Here, she speaks to Annie about behavioural patterns, authenticity, the definition of trauma, her own personal changes including navigating a three person relationship, and of course her ideas around healing. This conversation was a real pleasure.Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changesAlso mentioned in this conversation are these Changes episodes:Gabor Maté https://shows.acast.com/findingannie/episodes/gabor-mateAna Kirova (CEO of progressive dating app Feeld)https://shows.acast.com/findingannie/episodes/ana-kirova Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming out as non-binary publicly, in their own words, has been “the beginning of a happiness I’ve never known, not since childhood”. Kae Tempest is a poet, a writer, a lyricist, a performer and a recording artist. They have published 3 plays, a novel, a book-length essay, 7 books of poetry including their latest ‘Divisible by Itself and One’ and released 5 albums, two of which received nominations for the Mercury Prize (‘Everybody Down’ and ‘Let Them Eat Chaos’). They’ve also received two Ivor Novello nominations, received the Ted Hughes Award and they were named a Next Generation Poet in 2014 by the Poetry Book Society, a once-in-a-decade accolade. Their books have been translated into eleven languages and published to critical acclaim around the world.In 2020, Kae came out as non-binary and here speaks, incredibly beautifully as you may imagine, about the pain of going through puberty and struggling with being themselves. Their use of language to describe life, their relationship to change and their journey is, as you may expect, astounding. They are wise, thought provoking and generous, just like their work. This conversation was a privilege and could have extended for hours.Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From unknown train fan to viral trainspotting sensation, Francis Bourgeois has changed the face of what it is to be a trainspotter. His heartwarming and contagious videos of his euphoric reaction to spotting trains have made millions of people happy. He is now the world's most famous trainspotter with over 2.8 million followers on Tik Tok, more than 60 million likes and 1.6 million followers on instagram. Many celebs are fans too, with Joe Jonas and Thierry Henry joining Francis trainspotting and brands like Gucci collaborating with him. He has written a book The Trainspotter's Notebook, and currently hosts the series Trainspotting with Francis Bourgeois for Channel 4 with guests like AJ Tracey and Aisling Bea. Francis’ real name is Luke Nicolson and despite his huge success, after some old school photos appeared of him looking very different to the Francis we know, many people questioned his authenticity. He discusses how this made him feel here and the changes he made at school to fit in. You may even shed a tear listening to Francis speak about his life. He’s an inspiration to so many children and adults. One thing is for sure, there is no denying his impact and the joy he brings. The world needs more Francis.Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we bring you a conversation that has been on the cards for a long time! A TV and radio presenter turned businesswoman with her ever expanding brand of Happy Place, Fearne Cotton has both experienced and enabled big change in her life. One significant change for Fearne was making the decision to leave her job presenting one of the biggest shows on BBC Radio 1 after 10 years. Fearne and Annie were colleagues, and as part of this episode, they finally get a chance to revisit their time at the station together and explore their  respective decisions to leave.Curating her own world with Happy Place, Fearne is now an award winning podcaster, has a Happy Place festival, a publishing imprint and an app, all of which advocate for a wider conversation around mental health, self-care and helping people live happier lives. She’s also an author with multiple Sunday Times Best Sellers including her latest and most personal book, ‘Bigger Than Us’.In this episode, as well as discussing Radio 1 days, Annie and Fearne discuss Fearne being CEO of her business, being women in the entertainment industry, bulimia, step parenting and much more. You can get tickets to the Happy Place Festival and find out more about all things Happy Place here:https://www.happyplaceofficial.co.uk/events/Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Easter Monday we give you comedian Joe Lycett and producer Mark Ronson. Joe Lycett has got a reputation for cleverly using comedy to bring our attention to issues he believes need addressing. He calls out people who exploit or capitalise off marginalised people and, in the process, makes us question things. His show ‘More, More, More, How Do you Lycett? How Do you Lycett?’ brilliantly highlighted LGBTQ issues. It’s a masterpiece. In this revisited episode Annie asks Joe when he realised that he could enact change through being a comedian. You can now see Joe every Friday evening at 10pm on Channel 4 with his new show Late Night Lycett, a live show from Birmingham.Seven-time grammy winning producer Mark Ronson has just become a father. He himself was born in London but raised in New York City from the age of 7 after his parents divorced. In this episode from last year, we jump in when he talks about his transition from being a DJ to a producer and finding where he belongs and feels most creatively happy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are revisiting Irish comedian Joanne McNally and Lottery winner Susan Herdman. One of the most popular guests ever on Changes, Joanne McNally is currently touring her acclaimed show The Prosecco Express. She is also the co-host of the hugely successful podcast ‘My Therapist Ghosted Me’ with her friend Vogue Williams. Here, we revisit her talking about the end of her struggles with bulimia and move into comedy in her 30s.  Susan Herdman’s life changed when she won almost £1.2 million on the lottery. Prior to that she was a hairdresser and sometimes worried about turning on the heating. Here, we return to the night she realised that she had won. Listen back to the full episodes here:Joanne McNally https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/81b0a8bdf7a14c9c2e6b7fd9336a6a46247d2146/viewSusan Herdmanhttps://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/88b5162ac5cc7268eb87c5e15cb3d6f0bcf569ff/viewContent warning: bulimia / eating disorders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Norman Cook has been a fixture as superstar DJ Fat Boy Slim since the 90s. He started his musical career as part of the band the Housemartins but it was Fat Boy Slim that changed his life. In 1998, his second album "You've Come Along Way Baby" went to number 1, featuring the now classic dance tracks "Praise You”, "Right Here Right Now” and “Rockafeller Skank”. His legendary party Big Beach Boutique II, took place on Brighton beach 20 years ago and made the history books as the biggest outdoor party to have ever taken place in the UK. Sky recently released a documentary about it called “Right Here, Right Now”. Here, Norman talks about that day, his journey to success, family, getting sober and life now. Norman has two children with his ex wife, radio presenter Zoe Ball and still lives in Brighton, where he even served coffee during the pandemic. All hail, Norman Cook.Find out about gigs here: https://www.fatboyslim.net/Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a story about intense love, immeasurable loss and incredible strength. Behind the happy positive personality that is Sarah Gwonyoma, founder of @WhatSarahReadNext (a platform that she uses to review books and interview authors), is a woman who has been through unbelievable changes. After meeting Tim, Sarah moved to the other side of the world to be with him. It’s a beautiful film-like story but sadly, in 2017, Sarah’s world was turned upside down when both her brother and husband died unexpectedly. Here, she shares her story, which includes her struggles with fertility and becoming a single mum overnight. Through it all, what’s clear is Sarah’s immense strength, courage and radiant positivity. She has since used her experiences for good and as a tool to heal, deciding to change careers and turn her passion for books into a job.Sarah’s story will both astound and inspire you.  Follow Sarah here: @whatsarahreadnextFind out more here: https://linktr.ee/what_sarah_read_nextChanges is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changesContent warning: detail around fertility issues including operations, miscarriages and IVF.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jake Shears is the opposite of a fun sponge, he’s the life and soul of every party, a positive force. Jake is the frontman of Scissor Sisters, a band which made a huge impression on pop and club culture; their debut album was the biggest album in the UK in 2004. Jake and Scissor Sisters came up in the gay scene of New York and with their fun loving, extravagant performances, the band were instrumental in paving the way for other mainstream queer artists. Now a solo artist, Jake has written for and toured with Kylie, duetted with Cher, starred in Kinky Boots on Broadway and recently wrote the lyrics for the sold-out 'Tammy Faye' musical alongside good friend Elton John, who wrote the music. He has just released a new single ‘Too Much Music’ ahead of the release of his life affirming new album ‘Last Man Dancing’ - a big love letter to club culture and pop music. In this conversation he discusses growing up in different places in America, coming out, starting out in New York as a Go-Go Dancer before Scissor Sisters exploded, struggles with his identity when the band finished and the changes he has experienced himself and in his relationships.Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jen Brister calls herself the ‘other mother’, the non-biological one, a gay comedian raising twin boys with her partner Chloe. She draws on this in her comedy with millions of views on instagram of her hilarious observations about mothers and their relationships with their children. Jen is currently touring her show The Optimist described by the Guardian as “expertly calibrated crabbiness”, “no one rages against the world better”. Jen is a regular on UK TV having performed on Live at the Apollo, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, Mock the Week, QI, Hypothetical and Sara Pascoe’s comedy Lectures on Dave. Her sell out show ‘Meaningless’ can be streamed on Amazon Prime. She has also written a book called ‘The Other Mother’ and has a brilliant weekly podcast called Women Talking Bollocks with her two comedian friends, Maureen Younger and Allyson June Smith. Here she talks to Annie about her defining changes, parenting, porn and children, grief, success in your 40s (if you need inspiration for persevering with your dreams, Jen is perfect) and much more.Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the age of 18, just about to start her adult life, Sophie Morgan was in a car crash which instantly paralysed her from the chest down. She was told she would never walk again. Since that day, rather than let her disability defeat her, Sophie has used it as nothing but motivation and is now one of the first, and only, female disabled television hosts in the world as well as an award-winning disability advocate.Sophie has presented at the Paralympics in London, Rio and Tokyo, led ground-breaking documentaries such as Dispatches and Unreported World, is a regular Loose Women panellist and is now hosting her own Channel 4 series ‘Living Wild: How to Change your Life.’ She has also written a memoir called Driving Forwards. In this conversation she tells Annie about the day everything changed and takes us through her life and experiences before and after the crash. Sophie is an incredibly positive, determined person, an unstoppable force who will make you want to take on the world. You can watch Sophie's Channel 4 series, buy her memoir and find out more here: https://www.sophiemorgan.com/Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we welcome double Oscar nominated, golden globe and BAFTA winning actor Samantha Morton. She is one of the finest actors of her generation, acting since the early 90s, in Hollywood, independent movies and TV. You may know Samantha from the films Emma and Jane Eyre, Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report with Tom Cruise, Woody Allen’s Sweet and Lowdown, Elizabeth the Golden Age and the TV series Harlots and The Walking Dead. This year, she stars in The Whale alongside Brendan Fraser, who is nominated for an academy award and The Serpent Queen, in which she stars as Catherine DeMedici, has a second series. Samantha was born in Nottingham and taken into care as a baby, being moved around foster homes and children's homes until she was 16, with a spell of being homeless in her early teens. She suffered abuse, both sexual and physical and was in trouble with the police. As a successful actor, she is passionate about working to highlight the issues within the care system in the UK. Her directorial debut, The Unloved was inspired by her story and the stories of other girls she met in care. It won a BAFTA for Best Single Drama and even led to her working with the labour government around child care at the time. Last year, Samantha starred in the film She Said as an ex assistant to Harvey Weinstein about the New York journalists who broke the story on Weinstein being a sexual predator. It’s a full circle role given that Samantha was one of the few young actors to publicly speak up about Weinstein’s bullying behaviour way before the Me Too movement began. She speaks here about some of the behaviour she experienced as a young actor. But what are the changes that Samantha feels have defined her own life? Annie finds out.Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changesWarning: contains descriptions of physical and sexual abuse and inappropriate sexual misconduct on film sets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever been curious about changing things up in your love life? Or changing the way you view romantic partnerships? Would you consider an open relationship? What about jealousy? Ana Kirova is the CEO of the progressive dating app Feeld for open minded couples and singles to look for potential partners. In 2022, she featured in Forbes 30 under 30 list for technology and ELLE Magazine described her as “the woman taking responsibility for bringing a new era of radical sexual honesty to the masses.” More and more people are seeking out different relationships; a national survey by YouGov in 2020 found that only 56 percent cited complete monogamy as their ideal relationship style. Apps like Feeld are reflecting that and facilitating this change in habit with more than 20 sexualities and gender identities to choose from on the app. On the week of Valentine's Day, Ana shares her personal experience which led to wanting to make a change and her thoughts and lessons from running a dating app.Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trevor Nelson is a legendary broadcaster. He changed the world of radio and what was played, becoming a figurehead of R&B and black music. He has had a phenomenally successful career broadcasting for 35 years. The list of people he has interviewed is hard to rival - Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Jay Z, Kanye, P Diddy, Muhammed Ali. It goes on. Trevor started on Kiss, when it was a pirate station, before joining Radio 1 in 1996 hosting the first ever national RNB show. At one point he had a show on three BBC networks (Radio 1, 1xtra and Radio 2), something only he has achieved. In the late 90s, Trevor presented The Lick on MTV and has won two MOBO awards for Best DJ. He has paved the way for others, all whilst being incredibly humble and unfazed by being a minority in the room. But who is the man behind the voice? What has changed him? Annie finds out. You can currently hear Trevor on BBC Radio 1xtra every Sunday at 11am and Radio 2, Monday to Thursday at 10:30pm. Warning: does reference suicidal thoughts. Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you live after surviving the holocaust? This is a story of hope and determination against all odds. Edith Eva Eger is a holocaust survivor. Her parents were killed in Auschwitz. She got out and dedicated her life to helping others with PTSD by becoming a psychologist. Once a ballerina and part of the Hungarian Olympic gymnastics team, Edith was sent to Auschwitz with her sister and parents when she was 16. After being separated from her parents, she was made to dance for Josef Mengele known as the Angel of Death, endured horrendous conditions and after a gruelling death march to Gunkirchen, when her kindness in Auschwitz to others came back around, she was eventually found having been left for dead by a US soldier who saw her hand move. Now 95 years old, she has written two books, her memoir The Choice - Embrace the Possible and The Gift - 12 Lessons to Save Your Life. Edith is an inspiration. A gracious, incredibly strong woman. Here, she shares her unimaginable experience with Annie, the reasons she thinks she survived and how what she learnt during the war can help everyone today to handle adversity.Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changesContent warning: this episode contains some very upsetting content about the horrors of the holocaust and the events that took place. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is there anything Jayde Adams can’t do? Acting, comedy, cooking, hosting, dancing, all things she’s had huge success in. After her sister died of a brain tumour, Jayde has done her proud; she co-hosted the BAFTA nominated series Snackmasters and Crazy Delicious with Heston Blumenthal, starred in the BAFTA winning series Alma’s Not Normal, made an Amazon prime stand up special called Serious Black Jumper sharing her views on the Kardashians and celebrity life, and performed on Strictly Come Dancing, to name a few!With her recognisable Bristolian accent, working class background and appetite for changing perceptions and norms in TV, which she does just by being herself, Jayde has become a star. She’s funny, compelling and full of wisdom about life and work. Here she talks to Annie about why she loves change and how the biggest changes in her life have made her untouchable. Jayde’s latest stand up show Men, I Can Save You is touring the UK in March.Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year, America’s Nickelodeon child star Jennette McCurdy released her memoir ‘I’m Glad My Mom Died’ and it exploded, becoming a number one New York Times Best Seller. Hugely famous in the US starring in ‘iCarly’ and alongside Ariana Grande in ‘Sam and Cat’, no one would have guessed that behind the all smiles, successful glitz of child fame, Jennette was being unbearably controlled by her mother who was obsessed with Jennette becoming famous. In the book, which is full of dark humour, Jennette gives a detailed account of the unbelievable difficulties she went through as a child including being put on calorie restriction, her puberty being denied, being given extensive makeovers like teeth whitening to try and keep her looking as young as possible and being inspected and showered by her mum until she was 16. There were also the problems that came with being a child star, her Nickelodeon experience and being forced to go through gruelling auditions from the age of 6. The abuse Jennette went through as a child changed her but how she has gone about changing her life since her mom's death and having lots of therapy is incredible. Her account of her early life is absolutely not what you would expect from someone who seemingly had it all. Here, she candidly talks to Annie about her biggest changes and what she’s learnt through it all. Content warning: child abuse and eating disorders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are revisiting Annie sitting down with her husband Tom (known as producer Toddla T) to talk about his adult diagnosis of ADHD and speaking to Danila Khomutovsky, a Ukrainian man as he sheltered in Ukraine immediately after Russia invaded.T and Annie had been together 13 years when this conversation was recorded and spoke openly about how T's ADHD impacts their relationship and family life. Danila Khomutovsky, a voice artist and co-founder of a Ukrainian radio station, woke up in his home city of Kyiv the day Russia invaded, an event which has had an impact across the world. Annie spoke to Danila from a wooden cabin he had escaped to, after leaving his wife and son at the border of Poland. Here, in a raw and emotional recollection just a couple of weeks after the first bombs hit on 24th February 2022, he tells us about that fateful day. We will be back with a new series of Changes next week, subscribe now so you don't miss it.Listen back to the full episodes here: Toddla Thttps://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/2c1686576ca68056aaf70b004dfab36fc7cfb969/viewScattered Minds by Gabor Mate https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scattered-Minds-Origins-Attention-Disorder/dp/1785042211Danila Khomutovskyhttps://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/2bd75dec089ff7d898dd313a0db2905a2eba2e31/view Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first week of 2023, when you might be thinking about changing some things in your life, big or small, we are revisiting two very different guests who could change your view of things personally and in the world. One, a pop star sensation from Sweden and another a teacher, a filmmaker and an activist who is also a Syrian refugee who experienced crossing the sea to Greece in a rubber Dingy. Robyn is a hugely loved sad banger connoisseur and to get to speak to her about her life and the changes that have shaped her music was a privilege. She had so much wisdom and changed our perspective on many things including her adulthood change which she likened to taking mushrooms...  Now living in the UK, where he landed after a treacherous journey from Syria, a journey which we see reported on the news often, Hassan Akkad wrote a memoir called ‘Hope Not Fear’. Here, he tells us exactly what that journey is like and his relationship with hope. His positivity in the face of adversity is inspirational. Listen to the full episodes here:Robynhttps://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/d0bff10e097d9c2b0b2c166b0657fe49ec512b0f/viewHassan Akkadhttps://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/d2a3a497f3be82eced4eb58d063d0a9e31940f47/viewBuy 'Hope Not Fear' here:https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/hassan-akkad/hope-not-fear/9781529059830 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oceans and Porn - this boxing day we have a unique and intriguing offering for you courtesy of highlights from Orla Doherty and Caitlin Moran. Orla Doherty is a TV producer and environmentalist making change through deep sea filming. Orla produced ‘the Deep’ episode and the finale of Blue Planet II with David Attenborough. We revisit her Changes episode as she describes in precise detail the magic of diving and filming in the deep ocean. It’s as if you are there. A perfect escape.  Caitlin Moran is a gear change but that’s what we’re here for after all. A journalist, author and broadcaster, one of the nation’s favourites, Caitlin is known for not holding back. This highlight is no exception, prepare for porn chat and maybe one day, porn to change the world.  Full episodes here: Orla Dohertyhttps://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/73154a0e981aaeea323f5c71eae4aa5e5387c47d/view Caitlin Moranhttps://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/3e730ec6830f51a1daabd7e9cb1cf21e4b5a6715/view Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the festive period we are revisiting some previous Changes episodes. This week we look back at highlights from presenter and now author Nick Grimshaw and Bake Off’s Prue Leith. Both episodes discuss changing as we get older, which as we end another year, seems appropriate. Nick Grimshaw was the host of BBC Radio 1’s breakfast show, something he had dreamed of forever but in this conversation he and Annie had just left Radio 1 after many years and talked about the big change, moving on and embracing ageing. Since then Nick has started a podcast called Dish with Michelin star chef Angela Hartnett and written a memoir called Soft Lad. This is a look back at how both Nick and Annie felt whilst in a period of huge change. Prue Leith has led a hugely varied life with novels, cook books, Michelin star winning restaurants, catering companies, cookery schools, the list goes on. She has great advice for how to keep things fresh in your life and a brilliant perspective on change. Listen to Dish here: https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/content/podcastBuy ‘Soft Lad’: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soft-Lad-collection-stories-about/dp/1399703307Listen to the full episodes here:Nick Grimshaw https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/3c329f3e35b56bbc18f706c65fbaa354670c469e/viewPrue Leithhttps://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/6f830a1d930611c1940ca0d953ff5bda8927ec02/view Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s that time of year again, an end of year special! Who better to join Annie to look back at the madness and events of 2022 than Rebecca Taylor aka, Self Esteem; a popstar who not only speaks her mind and does not hold back (yes, this is no exception), but has also had a phenomenal year and seen her career change irrevocably after releasing her album Prioritise Pleasure. There’s been Brit and NME nominations, a Mercury Prize nomination, which she will never forget, not least because the Queen died on the night the ceremony was about to start meaning it had to be postponed (this is discussed). She’s played 31 festivals including Glastonbury wearing an outfit designed to honour the shopping centre Meadowhall in Sheffield, she’s supported Adele at Hyde Park, appeared on Later…with Jools Holland, Graham Norton, the front cover of Grazia and Stylist, her success and schedule have been bonkers. Much like this year which has seen 3 prime ministers in the UK, Joe Lycett faking the Sue Grey report and calling out David Beckham, the England women’s football team winning the Euros, queue gate after the Queen died, Matt Hancock in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! and so much more. Where do we start? In a pub with Rebecca Taylor is where. Prepare for hilarity.The David Bowie documentary Rebecca references is Moonage Daydream which is in cinemas and available on streaming services.Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prepare to be amazed by Beeban Kidron, a woman who took on the tech giants and won, making urgent, life impacting changes to digital regulation and the online experiences of children and young people. As a member of the House of Lords, Beeban pushed through the world’s first ever Design Code into law in the UK, radically changing how social media treats children. Beeban is also a film and documentary director, her credits including ‘Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason’, the 3 time BAFTA winning adaptation of Jeanette Winterson's autobiographical novel ‘Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit and the drag queen road movie ‘To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar’ starring Wesley Snipes and Patrick Swayze.For her documentary called InRealLife, Beeban spent hundreds of hours with children discovering how the internet affects their lives including meeting people, porn and bullying. It was this experience that encouraged Beeban to change her life from film maker to lawmaker in order to protect children. She is one of the most impressive people to ever be on Changes. Here she shares what she’s learnt, what change looks like in the digital world and, really helpfully, shares some tips for those who want to help children navigate the internet. Warning, you may want to leave your job and go and join her. You can watch the documentary InRealLife here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/InRealLife-Beeban-Kidron/dp/B00J8PGGI8Beeban's 5 Rights Foundation, with more information, is here: https://5rightsfoundation.com/Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In support of World Aids Day on 1st December, Annie spoke to Sasha who was born with HIV but only found out about her hidden diagnosis when she was 16 after going to A&E with an injury. She had spent most of her childhood in hospitals but wasn’t told why. Sasha is part of the first cohort of babies to survive with HIV and has struggled with treatments for most of her life. After she found out about her diagnosis, she faced a lot of stigma. Now in her 30’s, she has had 3 children and lives a happy and healthy life. Sasha’s mum, who also had HIV and had lived for 20 years unmedicated, sadly died in her forties. It was Sasha’s experience with her mum that motivated Sasha to do what she does today. Having gone on a course which changed her perspective completely, Sasha now mentors and educates others about the realities of HIV today, the misconceptions and stigmas, how it affects people, how to manage pregnancy and how to live life. Here, Sasha shares her knowledge and unbelievable story. Thank you to the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK's leading HIV and sexual health charity for putting us together with Sasha. You can find out more about HIV and the support available on their website: https://www.tht.org.uk/Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Goldie is a music legend; a producer and DJ, graffiti artist and actor, instantly recognisable for wearing gold grills on his teeth. In the 90’s he became a pioneer of jungle and drum and bass music in the UK and launched the now legendary music label Metalheadz with DJ duo Kemistry & Storm. He released his ground breaking album Timeless in 1995, which went on to sell 250,000 copies. He dated Björk and Naomi Campbell. His success was immense and his impact and influence hasn’t stopped since. Born Clifford Joseph Price to a Jamaican father and Scottish mother, Goldie was raised in children’s homes and foster families from the age of 4. During his time in care, he was physically and sexually abused, which he discusses here. The man Annie speaks to today has sought to heal from his past and tells us how. He now lives with his wife and youngest daughter in Thailand and spoke to Annie from there about the many twists and turns in his life.Goldie's two memoirs can be bought here:https://www.waterstones.com/book/all-things-remembered/goldie/9780571332090https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nine-Lives-Goldie/dp/0340824786Should you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, in the UK, The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. Hotlines in other countries can be here: http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.htmlChanges is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How and why should we change the conversation around death and grief? Cariad Lloyd is an award winning actor and comedian but she might be best known for starting a much needed public conversation around grief. In 2016, Cariad launched her multi award winning podcast, Griefcast - a podcast that examines the human experience of grief and death but with comedians, so it’s cheerier than it sounds. Having lost her Dad as a teenager, Cariad made it her mission to help anyone dealing with grief. With a new book ‘You Are Not Alone’ coming out in January, Annie speaks to Cariad about her personal changes and experience with grief, something we will all experience at some point. This is a brilliant and insightful episode which may just change your approach to both life and death.You can find out more about Cariad's work here: https://cariadlloyd.com/Pre order her book 'You Are Not Alone' here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Are-Alone-Cariad-Lloyd/dp/1526621835Listen to Griefcast: https://play.acast.com/s/griefcastShould you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, in the UK, The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. Hotlines in other countries can be found http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.htmlChanges is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Cox was the most sought after shoe designer of the 90s, now he is a toad facilitator in Ibiza. When it comes to changes, you can’t get much more extreme. Patrick (otherwise known as Party Pat thanks to Janet Jackson) is the creator of the Wannabe, a modern style loafer, wanted and worn by everyone in the Brit Pop era. Every pop star you can think of had them - George Michael, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, the list is endless. The queues to get a pair were huge and at the peak frenzy, as many as 1 million pairs a year were sold. Patrick lived the high life and became great friends with Elton John, Kylie and Elizabeth Hurley. So, why then does he now live an entirely different life living in Ibiza on his own working with the psychedelic toad poison? Annie headed to Ibiza to find out.Changes is now a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s episode is a story of love and how love can change your life. It’s a story about marriage, family, health and grief but at its core is love. Love at all costs.  Tembi Locke is an actress and an author and now the co-writer and executive producer behind the new Netflix’s series, ‘From Scratch’, based on Tembi’s beautiful and heartbreaking life story which she wrote about in her New York Times best-selling memoir. ‘From Scratch’ has been adapted and produced by Reece Witherspoon and stars Zoe Salanda. As an actress Tembi has appeared in TV shows, comedies and films including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Beverly Hills and 90210. But it’s her improbable and extraordinary story which has captured attention; meeting and marrying her Sicilian husband Saro, winning over his estranged family who rejected his life choices, including Tembi as a black American, and ultimately caring for Saro as he died. Tembi writes so beautifully in her memoir about her life and the intimacy of witnessing Saro dying and raising a grieving child. Her story is defiant and moving. It’s about bringing families together despite their differences, changing your life because of love and the challenges that come with that.  It may even change your idea of romance and what it is to love someone. 'From Scratch' is on Netflix now and you can buy the memoir here:https://www.tembilocke.com/book/Changes is now a deaf friendly podcast. You can access transcripts here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changesShould you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode there is always someone to talk to. In the UK, The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. You can also contact Mind on 0300 123 3393 or head to mind.org.uk. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. Hotlines in other countries can be found http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you heal yourself from trauma and change the course of your health? Gabor Mate believes you can. Gabor is a physician and an internationally renowned bestselling author and addiction expert in huge demand to speak about his expertise on addiction, trauma, childhood development, and the relationship of stress and illness. Gabor teaches that as human beings we are creatures of our environment and that our bodies are inseparable from our psychology and social relationships. His new book The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture, which he wrote with his son, looks at the context in which illnesses originate and develop looking at social context and trauma. Gabor was born in Hungary, in 1944 during the second world war and is a survivor of the Nazis holocaust. His maternal grandparents were killed in Auschwitz when he was five months old and he was separated from his mother for safety. He emigrated to Canada in 1956. Gabor believes this start in life impacted the way he behaves today and is part of why he now helps others. Here, he speaks to Annie about all of the above, change, the problem with being too nice, authenticity, oh, and clubbing at Berghain in Berlin at the age of 78.You can buy Gabor's new book The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture here: https://drgabormate.com/book/the-myth-of-normal/Changes is now a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changesShould you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode there is always someone to talk to. In the UK, The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. You can also contact Mind on 0300 123 3393 or head to mind.org.uk. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. Hotlines in other countries can be found http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sophie Willan is fabulous; an actor, comedian and writer from Bolton, whose sitcom ‘Alma’s Not Normal’ earned her two BAFTAs. Her writing manages to be both fearless in tackling serious themes, and incredibly funny. You only have to watch Sophie’s reaction to winning her first BAFTA and acceptance speech for the second to realise how hilarious Sophie is and just how much her success means. Growing up Sophie was looked after by her Grandma and spent time in the care system due to her mother being a heroin addict. When she was older, to help fund her career, Sophie worked as an escort. She has utilised her past experiences in her shows ‘On Record’ and ‘Branded’, selling out at the Edinburgh Fringe with national tours and a subsequent Radio 4 series of ‘On Record’. Sophie founded a writing and outreach organisation called Stories Of Care for exceptional new writers from diverse backgrounds and set up a paid training programme for young people from low income and Care Experienced backgrounds on the production of her sitcom Alma’s Not Normal.  Alma’s Not Normal is a semi autobiographical comedy which focuses on Alma living in Bolton trying to make the most of what she has and dreaming of being an actress, detailing the ups and downs of her relationships including with her mum, grandma and best friend, played by Strictly star Jayde Adams. The show looks at class, sexuality, prejudice, mental health, abuse, and societal systems like social care, all whilst making you laugh out loud.This is a conversation about Sophie’s personal changes but also change in systems, change in prejudices and changing the concept of normal. Alma’s Not Normal is back on iPlayer for the month of October. Should you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, in the UK, The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. Hotlines in other countries can be found http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.htmlSophie mentions Lemn Sissay who’s Changes episode can be found here: https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/d006cf556767a3eb86b4249eb1704a789cb3d618/viewChanges is now a deaf friendly podcast. You can access transcripts here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘You never quite know the ripple effect you have when you’re telling a tale’. Anne Marie Duff is a storyteller at heart. She is currently starring as Grace, a wife in an abusive relationship in Sharon Horgan’s phenomenal dark comedy, Bad Sisters which is being talked about everywhere. She’s an award-winning actress known for her BAFTA nominated roles in Shameless, The Virgin Queen and Nowhere Boy. She’s also starred on Broadway and at the National Theatre playing women like Lady Macbeth or Joan of Arc and alongside Dame Judy Dench in Notes On A Scandal and Meryl Streep in Suffragette, amongst others. Recently she appeared in Netflix’s Sex Education playing the role of a Mother who is a recovering drug addict, and now with the character of Grace in Bad Sisters, she portrays a bullied and abused women who is being slowly isolated from her sisters and the world. Anne Marie is incredibly versatile and, in her work, takes on complicated women in all forms. Anne Marie grew up in a working-class Irish family in London and has been through lots of change, from school to marriage to the actor James McAvoy, divorce and having a child all whilst balancing a successful career. Here, she spills the tea on Bad Sisters, and brings us through the biggest changes in her life to date. The final episode of Bad Sisters airs this Friday, 14th October on Apple TV.Content warning: domestic abuse Should you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, in the UK, The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. Hotlines in other countries can be found here http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.htmlChanges is now a deaf friendly podcast. You can access transcripts here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Smith is back and on fire. They’re releasing new music and being completely themselves, knowing exactly who they are. Sam’s achieved monumental success - four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. In 2019, Sam came out as non binary and today, their music is more popular than ever with their current single Unholy instantly becoming the number 1 trending song in the world. Having known Sam for many years, Annie, along with the rest of the world, has watched Sam evolve as a person and it’s beautiful to see. In this wonderfully honest conversation, Sam talks about not waiting for people to come with them anymore, this is it now, and goes deep on their career, family, identity and heartbreak. So, are you in?Changes is a deaf friendly podcast and you can access transcripts here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changesIf you missed it, you may also be interested in a recent Changes guest Shon Faye, a writer and journalist who wrote The Transgender Issue - an argument for justice having provided commentary as a Trans Woman for years. It is a really important and insightful conversation covering representation, shame, education, addiction, love and so much more. https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/639b08b60e2c49d1961ce4bb2558591452c8e5c2/viewShould you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, there is always someone to speak to. In the UK, The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. Hotlines in other countries can be found here http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.