Changes with Annie Macmanus (Annie Macmanus)

Bez is a legendary figure of the Manchester music scene - the wild maraca playing dance man of Happy Mondays and a member of Black Grape, he has since traded the party days to lead a healthy lifestyle and become an unlikely fitness instructor with his You Tube classes "Get Buzzin’ with Bez”. A multi faceted man, Bez won Celebrity Big Brother in 2005, previously stood as a candidate in the UK General Election running on a platform of "free energy, free food and free anything" and has explored community living. Here Bez talks to Annie about the many changes in his life - the highs and the lows, his new approach to healthy living, why males in his age group might be more reluctant to embrace change and a sustainable lifestyle, and his love of beekeeping!

This episode is sponsored by Oatly. Oatly has launched a campaign called – ‘Help Dad – a guide to help dads quit dairy’ which is designed to encourage open-minded conversations between different generations about dairy consumption, plant based diets, and how what we eat and drink can affect the environment. For more information, stats, tools and tips just head to Oatly’s campaign website - oatly.com/helpdad. 

You can follow Bez on instagram @bezmondays

You can watch and join in with Get Buzzin With Bez here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGJyQCUuEsspqeg4XD8eE7g

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Shaun King is a civil rights activist for the 21st Century. Previously named in Time magazine's top 25 most influential people on the internet, Shaun uses his vast social media following to advocate for justice and fundraise for the families of victims' of police brutality and discrimination. He posts videos and information about racially motivated crimes to help find the perpetrators. He’s headed social media campaigns which led to the identification and arrest of the men responsible for the assault of DeAndre Harris as well as exposing information in seeking justice for the killings of Ahmaud Arbery and Michael Brown. He heads a number of organisations focussed on changing criminal justice - Real Justice helping to elect prosecutors who support criminal justice reform in the United States and the North Star, a crowd funded independent, media platform for liberation-journalism. 

A quick google search will throw up an array of opinions and criticisms around Shaun King. He has had to repeatedly defend himself against accusations such as mishandling of funds, disinformation and a lack of accountability and retaliating harshly to naysayers. He has also had to defend his racial identity. 

In this conversation Annie finds out about the man behind the name. His views on the controversies, the double edged sword of social media, which can be used for good but also backfire. Shaun’s passion for activism stems from a traumatic experience in his childhood which changed the course of his life forever. In this episode you will get a sense of the man behind the news stories - his beginnings, his motivation, his regrets and his hope for change.

Content Warning: this episode references suicide and includes explicit references to racism and racially motivated crimes.

You can order Shaun’s book here called “Make Change: How to Fight Injustice, Dismantle Systemic Oppression, and Own Our Future”

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Change-Injustice-Dismantle-Oppression/dp/0358048001

You can follow Shaun on instagram and twitter @shaunking

https://www.shaunking.org/

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For the first part of the Mother Mother Mini-Series, Annie speaks to Francisco Garcia about the Missing Persons Crisis. When he was seven years old, Francisco's father walked out of his life, and entered into the messy hinterland of the missing. Now, as a journalist, Francisco has become fascinated with the wide spectrum of experience that gets bundled into the term 'missing person', and he takes that fascination, as well as his own curiosity about what became of his father, as the basis for his first book, If You Were There. Like Mother Mother, it's a story that interrogates the motivations that might cause a person to leave, as well as the impact on those left behind – all of which serves as the foundation for a fascinating conversation about a world too often misunderstood.

Francisco's book is available here: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/if-you-were-there-missing-people-and-the-marks-they-leave-behind-francisco-garcia?variant=32674626535502

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A brand new series for these times of massive change - and DJ Annie Mac is here to tell you more...

New episodes from Monday - stay subscribed to this feed to get it as soon as it drops!

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When Jhemar was 16, his brother Michael was stabbed to death. Since that night, he has been trying to change the world through lobbying campaigns and his own entrepreneurship. 

In this woozy, late night chat with Annie, he discusses that night and its impact on his life, of those around him, and what needs to change, right now.

You can read about Jhemar's story of change here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-45683971

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In the second part of the Mother Mother Mini-Series, Annie speaks to journalist, and now best-selling author, Sophie Heawood about her memoir, The Hungover Games. It’s an outrageously funny book about something that didn’t feel particularly funny at the time: Sophie was in her mid-30s, living in LA, covering showbiz for the UK press, and quite happily swerving most of the responsibilities that come with adulthood. Then, a doctor told her she’d never conceive a child – at which point she immediately, unexpectedly, did exactly that, with a man who had no interest in being a father. Like Mother Mother, this is a story that hinges on the seismic shock of an unplanned pregnancy, and both books explore all the ways that motherhood recalibrates your perspective. This is a conversation about all the things that people get wrong about single motherhood. It’s about finding the courage to tell a story you’ve been sizing up for years and years. It’s about taking ownership of your own narrative, your own body, and your own future – and kindly requesting all those who have a problem with that to jog on.

You can buy The Hungover Games here: https://www.foyles.co.uk/all?term=9781787330511

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To mark the release of Annie's debut novel, Mother Mother, Changes returns with a special mini-series. Four conversations. Four authors. A whole heap of change.

Launching June 7th.

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Since 27th January, in the heart of London, nine activists, who call themselves HS2 Rebellion, have been trying to affect change by occupying a network of tunnels which they dug under Euston station. Larch Maxey is one of them. They are protesting against HS2, the High speed rail project planning to connect London to Birmingham up to Manchester and Leeds, a project which will lead to faster travel and better links between the north and south. It is estimated to cost over £100 billion. The activists are protesting due to the environmental and ecological impact of the scheme. The Government has said that the cost of tackling climate activists at HS2 sites has hit nearly £50 million - here Larch addresses the critics and explains why he believes this is the only way to affect change.  

Despite losing their high court case for a right to protest, the HS2 rebellion are still underground and resisting eviction by bailiffs. Annie spoke to Larch on Saturday 13th February after 18 days in the tunnels. As they spoke he received calls about new digs taking place to get them out. In this rare insight, Larch tells us about life underground, why they refuse to leave and the journey he has taken to be there, from fighting off bullies at school to being a single parent and the turning point that made him leave his job and dedicate his life to fighting climate change. It’s an emotional, informative and important listen. 

To find out more about HS2 Rebellion and their campaign head to:

HS2Rebellion.earth

Twitter: @Hs2Rebellion 

To support the tunnelers 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/25c4b0w040?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill 

https://www.ceebill.uk/

Want to help further?

If you want to help HS2 rebellion you can lobby your MP and ask them to:

1. support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill, 

https://www.ceebill.uk/

2. cancel HS2 and 

3. call off the Eviction.  

Larch also talks about this organisation - Balanced View 

https://www.openintelligenceandlove.org/

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Surprise! In this special episode on change, our planet and sustainability, award winning producer for Blue Planet II, Orla Doherty, shares her incredibly unique perspective on our oceans. Orla made huge changes in her life to get to where she is today - her love for the ocean came later in life at the age of 30 when she learnt to scuba dive, but when she fell, she fell hard!! She went on to quit her job in London as a TV producer and spent 10 years on a boat exploring coral reefs. After returning to dry land, turning 40 and moving back in with her parents, she went on to marry her TV work with her ocean exploration experience and spent over 500 hours at depths of 1,000 metres in three oceans filming ‘The Deep’ and the series finale of Blue Planet II. The series was a huge success being the most watched TV series on the BBC in 2017 sparking conversations around the world about the effect of plastic on our oceans - known as the Blue Planet effect. Orla shares her phenomenal journey and her thoughts on the changes we need to make, the biggest challenges in effecting change and why she would happily live under the sea. 

This special bonus episode is sponsored by The Mercedes-Benz A-Class which is now available as a Plug-in Hybrid with an all-electric range of up to 44 miles.

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Get ready because this week’s guest is best selling author, glamour model and TV personality, Katie Price and there’s no holds barred! Katie has experienced huge changes in her life (she has six autobiographies to show for it), not least was her recent stay at the Priory, which she explains has transformed her. Ever since she first appeared in the Sun in 1996, Katie’s life has constantly been in the press. She’s appeared on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here where she met Peter Andre who she then married, released an album, starred in a string of her own reality television series, been a panelist on the talk show Loose Women, a period in her life which she talks about here, and in 2015 she won Celebrity Big Brother. Katie has been married three times - to Peter Andre, Alex Reid and her last husband Kieran Hayler who she divorced for cheating with their nanny (having already had an affair with her best friend)! She is now in a happy relationship with former love island contestant Carl Woods.

Katie is mum to five children Harvey, Junior, Princess, Jett, and Bunny who are also in the public eye and she is now pregnant with her sixth child! She also lobbies for change as a result of her disabled son Harvey being subjected to online abuse. Katie has been encouraging people to sign her petition which aimed to remove anonymity online and make trolling illegal. Since recording the petition has been debated in parliament and you can read the Government's response here. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/575833

Here Katie talks Annie through a plethora of shocking events and dramas from her childhood to now when she is full of life and happier than ever. 

You can follow Katie on instagram and twitter @katieprice

Warning: This episode discusses rape, drugs and mental illness including references to suicide and depression. Should you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, 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. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html

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From a childhood spent caring for her mother, to her own struggles with “wonky hips” and leukaemia, Sinéad has had a unique take on the way our health shapes our perspective of life and love.

In this discussion with Annie, the bestselling author talks about illness, the body, and how women are treated by male doctors.

Follow Sinéad: @sineadgleeson on twitter

Read her new collection of essays, Constellations

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Part three of the Mother Mother Mini-Series is all about living with grief – something Nikesh Shukla gets to terms with in his memoir, Brown Baby. Nikesh has written novels for adults and children, and he curated the acclaimed essay collection, The Good Immigrant, but this is the first time he’s delved so deep into his own life for material. It’s a gorgeous, vulnerable book, about the dual experience of becoming a father and losing a mother, and the ways those two events became tangled up in Nikesh’s mind. That theme, of the way grief can alter your perspective, and colour each waking moment, plays a central role in Annie’s novel, Mother Mother, and there is plenty of discussion here about the devastation of losing someone dear to you. But this is also a conversation about finding joy amongst the rubble, and creating a world full of wonder and beauty for those who remain to move through.

You can buy Nikesh’s memoir here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/nikesh-shukla/brown-baby/9781529032918

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Homeschooled from the age of 11, the eldest of 8 kids, Caitlin Moran wrote the bestselling 'How To Be A Woman' and recently wrote the screenplay of the similarly bestselling book 'How To Build A Girl'. 

In this pre-lockdown discussion with Annie, the Times columnist discusses her two biggest changes in her life - including growing up without that formal education, her regret at how she acted as a young music journalist, pornography and how mucking about will save us all.

How To Build A Girl stars Beanie Feldstein and Alfie Allen and will be available to stream from May 8. You can follow Caitlin on twitter, where she is at her absolute best, @caitlinmoran

Trigger warnings: reference to self harm, sex

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Since her very first day in primary school, Sinéad understood the power of education and how it can challenge the status quo and to give agency and opportunity to the most vulnerable.

Across her career so far she has visited schools, workplaces, government agencies and the White House to enact change... which all started after she was asked to do a TED Talk about disability and design. Annie finds out how these two moments - the first day at school and that defining talk - has impacted her life, and many others, for the better.

Further reading

Follow her thesineadburke on Twitter and Instagram

Podcast: As Me with Sinéad 

Enjoy that TED talk

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In 2020, the world changed in ways none of us could ever have imagined. Dr Steven Taylor is the author of The Psychology of Pandemics, the first-ever comprehensive analysis of this subject which he published before Covid 19 broke out. Since then, the coronavirus pandemic has so far resulted in over 2.7 million deaths worldwide, with over 126,500 deaths in the UK alone. As the vaccination program beds in and the rules start to fall away, Annie wanted to bring you a conversation that could act as a useful tool in helping us to move forwards out of Covid 19 in the healthiest way possible. 

Enter Dr Steven Taylor - an award winning Professor and Clinical Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia. Steven is an expert at human behaviour in pandemics and in this conversation Annie quizzes him about Covid 19 in relation to pandemics of the past, and how this one has compared - have we learnt anything? We discuss patterns in behaviour when it comes to freedoms being curtailed, the psychology of our journey and how the pandemic has changed us from panic buying to lockdown loneliness, resulting societal changes in terms of relationships, birth rates and wearing masks and what really affects how well people cope.

We are introduced to new phrases like ‘anchoring bias’, where we predict our future based on how we’re feeling now and ‘post traumatic growth’, the idea that you go through an ordeal, a trauma or a pandemic, and you don't just bounce back to where you were, but you actually grow as a human being. 

This is essential listening, reflecting on the biggest change the world has seen in a long time. 

Warning: This episode discusses the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Should you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, 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. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html

Dr Steven Taylor's book can be found here:

https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Pandemics-Steven-Taylor/dp/1527539598

You can find our more about his work here:

https://www.drsteventaylor.com/

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From travelling around Sweden with her theatrical family, to walking away from the safety of the record labels, Robyn has never been one to stand still.

Recording from her sun-dappled window seat in Stockholm, the chart-topping singer tells Annie about the two changes that have had the biggest impact on her life... and why psychoanalysis is like magic mushrooms.

Go discover Robyn's exceptional back catalogue including Robyn (2005) and Body Talk (2010) and follow her @robynkonichiwa

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Annie Macmanus returns with another crop of fascinating guests, from all walks of life, for conversation about the changes that define us.

Changes, series four – launching September 13th.

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Very few artists win the Turner Prize. Very few filmmakers win an Oscar. Only one person has won both. That person is Sir Steve McQueen, the acclaimed director of Hunger, Shame, 12 Years a Slave, and Widows. With each film, Steve McQueen expanded the scope of his fierce, unflinching gaze – from Irish republicanism, to the Slave Trade in the Deep South – but for his most recent project, he turned that gaze inwards, to the world that he knows most intimately. Small Axe is a love letter to his parents' Windrush Generation, who lit London ablaze with music, politics, and culture, on their arrival from the West Indies. It is the project that Steve McQueen has been circling around and sizing up for much of his life, but only recently felt able to take on.

In the first episode of the new season of Changes, you'll hear a maverick artist unleash the energy and intellect that has become his trademark on a wide array of subjects: the school system; privilege; cinema; Grenfell. This is a conversation about the need for all-encompassing, systemic change – as well as the profound, personal change that comes with setting your own blueprint for success in a landscape hostile to your every creative breath. It's a conversation that will leave you dizzy, angry, and, inevitably, inspired.

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What does it feel like to stand on the brink of a total, all-encompassing change? Abbey Smith, who releases music as Yebba, would be a good person to ask. After collaborating with Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Sam Smith, and Drake – and being touted as a 'once in a generation' voice – she is now releasing her long-awaited debut album, and it's poised to make her a superstar. That's about as dramatic a change as life can throw at you, but Yebba is used to upheaval. Five years ago, just as her singing career was really beginning to take off, she lost her mother to suicide, and she has spent much of the time since wrapping her head around the grief and trauma that followed – often in the form of the songs that comprise the album. When the album was finished, she called it Dawn, after her mother. In this conversation, Abbey is open and honest about the impact of her grief, and the ways it still plays out in her day-to-day, but she is also defiant, strong, and powerfully inspirational – ready to finally release the album that took so much out of her, and to face whatever comes next.

If you have been affected by the themes of this episode, there is help on hand.

In the UK, the Samaritans can be reached from any phone on 116 123

In the USA, the Suicide Prevention Line is 1-800-273-8255

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What's it like to say goodbye to your family, your friends, your entire life – and head out into the unknown, never to return? As the Migrant Crisis continues to displace hundreds of thousands of people around the world each year, and as Priti Patel weighs up policies to deter those who wish to seek asylum in the UK, Annie zeroes in on the human experience at the centre of something too often reduced to statistics and rhetoric. Hassan Akkad has lived the world-upending change of seeking asylum. Born and raised in Damascus, Syria, he was arrested and imprisoned for taking part in protests against the Assad dictatorship. He was subjected to horrific abuse at the hands of his captors, and eventually fled the country. His journey to the UK began on a rubber dinghy off the coast of Greece, and ended, months later, in the arrival hall of Heathrow airport. What happened in-between transformed his world, forever. But Hassan's story does not end with his arrival in the UK. He is a teacher, an activist, a filmmaker – and now, an author. His memoir, Hope Not Fear, is a powerful and moving account of the treacherous journey that Hassan and countless others have been forced to make. It is also a vital, optimistic portrait of resilience and the human spirit – which makes fertile ground for one of the most inspiring conversations we've heard on Changes.

Hope Not Fear is available for purchase here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/hassan-akkad/hope-not-fear/9781529059830

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When Jimmy Carr was 25 years old, his life looked very different. He was a marketing exec at an oil company, a practicing Catholic, a virgin. And he was sad. In order to change that. He asked himself one question: "What do I want?" He soon discovered that knowing the answer to that question was half the battle. In this conversation, you'll hear exactly how Jimmy Carr turned a quarter-life crisis into an astonishingly successful career in comedy – and why he'd recommend a similar degree of upheaval to anyone stuck in a rut.

You can purchase Jimmy Carr's new book, Before & Laughter, here: https://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/titles/jimmy-carr/before-laughter/9781529413076/

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How can a stutter or a stammer change the way you move through the world? If you speak fluently, you've likely never given it a great deal of thought, but talk to Lisa Nealan and you'll start to understand the ways a speech impairment might dominate your day-to-day existence. That was the case with Lisa for years. At the age of eight, she suffered an accident that left her speech permanently changed, and she subsequently built her entire life around her stutter, avoiding any and all situations that might require her to speak. Though you'd never know it to hear her talk, now. That's because at the depths of one of the most desperate periods of her life, Lisa managed to carry out some awe-inspiring personal changes, that have left her entire world expanded and transformed. This is a thrilling and powerful conversation about one woman finding her voice after so many years of silence.

If you're affected by some of the themes in today's episode, you can reach the Samaritans by phone on 116 123, or email them at jo@samaritans.org.

In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Line can be reached 1-888-628-9454.

You can find the Change – The Glow of Love (referenced in her intro) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMrDJLPlq20&ab_channel=AuntieSoul34

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Are we making progress in the war against gender inequality? If anyone should know, it's Caroline Criado Perez. A couple of years ago, she released Invisible Women: Exposing Gender Bias in a World Designed for Men. It was a book, founded upon an enormous amount of research, that made explicit something known instinctively by many: the world we move in was not created with women in mind, and that the repercussions of that oversight are too many to count, ranging in impact from minor annoyance to potentially life-threatening. With the recent murders of Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everard once again focusing attention on the treatment of women in society, we thought it a pertinent time to ask Caroline onto Changes, to discuss the ways things have and haven't shifted since her book exploded onto the scene. As you will hear, there is cause for sadness and frustration, as always, but there is also more reason than ever to educate yourself and join the fight.

You can buy Invisible Women here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/111/1113605/invisible-women/9781784706289.html

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When your entire life has been about working towards one goal, what happens when you've reached it? For Nick Grimshaw – that goal was becoming a presenter on BBC Radio 1, and specifically, hosting its famous breakfast show. It's a dream that came true for him in 2012. But now, like Annie, he has decided to leave Radio 1, and set off in pursuit of a new adventure – the specifics of which remain pleasantly undecided in his mind. For both Annie and her old pal, Grimmy, it's been a year of big changes. So, this conversation is an opportunity to catch up and connect over the shared experience of it all – the nerves, the thrills, the weirdness – as well as reminisce about the days in which they knocked around the BBC together. It's a chance for two old friends to sit round the kitchen table and put the world to rights.

Transition – Galaxy 2 Galaxy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkZ_vKWF8e8&ab_channel=Scubadevils

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When you discover that your entire world is based upon a lie, how do you begin to pick up the pieces and move ahead? Bexy Cameron spent the first part of her life convinced that the apocalypse was coming, and that she'd be dead by the age of 15. That's because she was brought up, alongside her 11 siblings, in a cult called the Children of God. No school, no TV, no contact with the outside world; all she knew was what the cult's mysterious and dangerous leader told them. The details of what Bexy went through, during the first part of her life, are harrowing to hear about – but they are not the end of her story. Bexy has lived a brilliant life since leaving the Children of God as a teenager, and she has now written about her experiences, as well as the unbelievable journey she went on to make sense of it all, in a memoir called Cult Following. In this conversation, she recounts some of the unbelievable things that she's been through, and offers rare perspective on the most earth-shattering changes imaginable.

You can buy Cult Following here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/cult-following/bexy-cameron/9781786580924

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Emily Ratajkowski has made an unbelievably successful life by commodifying her body. She'd be the first person to tell you that. And for the first part of her career, she felt very comfortable with that reality. On all of her shoots, she believed herself to be strong, capable, and in control. But somewhere along the line, something changed, and Emily began questioning the truth of her out look. She started looking back at the situations she'd been placed into as a young model, and finding new depths of nuance in the power dynamics at play there. She started writing things down, largely to figure out her what she really felt about her life, and was surprised to discover two things: firstly, that much of what she'd told herself about the world she moved in was wrong; secondly, that she felt a deep, powerful connection to the act of writing – and that it could offer her something she'd never experienced in her modelling work. This is a conversation about a fundamental change in world view and belief systems, all the more radical for arriving at the very pinnacle of success.

You can buy Emily Ratajkowski's book, My Body, here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-body/emily-ratajkowski/9781529420906

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Billy Porter is a man at the peak of his powers. Emmy, check. Tony, check. Grammy, check. Critically acclaimed memoir, first directorial film, major label recording contract; check, check, check. With a CV that reads like that, you'd be forgiven for assuming that Billy Porter has never had any trouble finding recognition for his creative powers. But the truth is, the man you see before you today, strolling up and down red carpets in a staggering ballgowns, is the product of so much change, trauma, and healing. Before booking the succession of parts that changed his life (Angels in America, Kinky Boots, and Pose), he spent a decade teetering on the brink of total obscurity, running on nothing but his own determination. The path that has delivered Billy Porter to the pinnacles of success was, at times, almost unbearably difficult, and it has gifted him with a laser sharp perspective on the tides of fate and the nature of change itself.

You can hear Billy Porter's new single, Children, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CbrteAcXGI&ab_channel=BillyPorter

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Changes is back for a new year and kicking off with an emotional and inspirational conversation with award winning journalist, broadcaster and author Elizabeth Day.

From the outside Elizabeth Day’s career has been an indisputable success story, a double first in history at Cambridge, a British Press Award for Young Journalist of the Year in 2004, endless writing credits and five novels. But it’s her podcast How To Fail and her memoir How To Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong and Failosophy: A Handbook For When Things Go Wrong that have ironically been her biggest successes. 

Elizabeth talks us through her biggest changes, from a move to Northern Ireland at the age of 4 and her troubles fitting in with an English accent in school there, to her divorce in her late thirties and her struggles with trying to have a baby. 

All of these things changed her sense of self and they way she looked at the world. And in that way that change can, she was able to do things differently as a result of them. How To Fail was her reaction to her own personal failures and has been a huge success as a podcast. And her latest novel Magpie, is borne out of Elizabeth wanting a book to exist in the world that tells the story of those women who struggle with infertility. The result is a thrilling, unique, and at times, heart wrenching novel. Elizabeth is remarkably open and articulate in talking about her IVFs and her miscarriages here, in a way that so many women will relate to and will find comforting and constructive. We thank her! And hope that you enjoy this episode. 

You can buy Magpie and any of Elizabeth’s previous books here:

https://www.elizabethdayonline.co.uk/books

You can listen to How To Fail, the podcast here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-to-fail-with-elizabeth-day/id1407451189

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Damon Albarn is a man whose whole creative ethos is based on change. His career spans over three decades now, with thirty albums released. His band Blur have released 8 studio albums, with Park Life released in 1994 the same year that Oasis released Definitely Maybe. It defined an era, making Blur synonymous with the 90s and the term Britpop. As co-founder of Gorillaz with Jamie Hewlett he has sold over 25 million records worldwide. 

He is prolific collaborator, forming various bands, like The Good, the Bad & the Queen with Paul Simonon of the Clash, Simon Tong of the Verve, and Tony Allen of Fela Kuti and Rocket Juice And The Moon, again with Tony Allen and flea from Red Hot Chilli Peppers. He’s worked with the Strokes, Bobby Womack, De La Soul and so many more! Damon has also created film scores, composed an opera, written music for a musical called Wonderland and is one of the people behind the Africa express movement, a platform for exchanges between African and western musicians. 

Damon is 53 now, with a grown up daughter and spends him time between London and Devon and Iceland, where he has just received Icelandic citizenship. He is as busy as ever. His latest solo album The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows, has had rave reviews and is out now. You can buy it here: https://damonalbarn.ochre.store/?ffm=FFM_bc82b474204774cc44f23dbfe8711498

We met at Damon’s studio in Tottenham before Christmas and had a lovely meandering conversation starting with Damon as a teenager going through bullying in school, moving to rural Essex, the start and the end of Blur, the inception of Gorillaz, social media addiction, metal detecting, and being witchy …

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We bring you a very unique episode this week, where Annie speaks to her husband Tom (a music producer who goes by the name Toddla T). It’s an incredibly insightful and generous conversation about being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, becoming sober and how they have both navigated those changes together. 

‘Four years after meeting Tom at Fabric nightclub, we had a baby together. We had another kid just under four years later. We’ve been together for 13 years in all. We’ve both had to grow up a lot since becoming parents, but since we got married in 2018, Tom has had a reckoning of sorts in terms of understanding himself, and this is all due to a huge change that happened in his life a few years ago, where he got an adult diagnosis of ADHD. 

I asked him to talk to me about his changes, and we covered his journey from being a misunderstood kid in school, to his epiphany of discovering music, to becoming famous, to becoming sober and the crippling anxiety that came as a result of that, to finally finding clarity after visiting an ADHD specialist and the work in progress that is his recovery. ‘

We really hope you enjoy this very special episode of Changes. All the links that Annie and Tom mention in the episode are as follows:

https://adhdaware.org.uk/what-is-adhd/getting-nhs-diagnosis/

https://aadduk.org/help-support/specialists-support-and-coaches/

Scattered Minds by Gabor Mate 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scattered-Minds-Origins-Attention-Disorder/dp/1785042211

The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unexpected-Joy-Being-Sober-alcohol-free/dp/1912023385

Untangle Your Anxiety: A Guide To Overcoming An Anxiety Disorder By Two People Who Have Been Through It by Joshua Fletcher and Dean Stott

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Untangle-Your-Anxiety-Overcoming-Disorder/dp/B08YQM9SPY/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1ZXJHAT5OSQA5&keywords=anxiety&qid=1644340522&sprefix=anxiety+%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-4

ADHD and Anxiety

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZiPPFHK7Xp/?utm_medium=copy_link

Should you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, 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. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html

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Can you imagine not knowing anything about your family, being rejected by the one you thought you knew and, at 17, finding out your real name and that your mother did in fact want you? In honour of Care Day, the world's largest celebration of the successes and achievements of children and young people with experience of care, which took place on Friday, we welcome to Changes, the hugely celebrated poet, writer and phenomenal human, Lemn Sissay. A man who was stolen from his mother, rejected by his foster family and moved through the care system from one brutal institution to the next. Lemn is now a BAFTA nominated International prize winning writer and was appointed an OBE in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to literature and charity. In this episode, Lemn recounts in detail the physical journeys he took when being driven away from his foster family, the only life he knew and, later in life, travelling to meet his mother for the first time in Africa. It is deeply moving. 

Lemn’s unique and incredible story of determination as well as his perspective on the concept of family, home and how we can improve care for children are both humbling and incredibly important. Here Lemn shares his unbelievable story with Annie, his most recent changes and his relationship now to the word ‘Care’. 

Lemn’s incredible Memoir, My Name Is Why was a number one Sunday Times Bestseller. You can buy it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Name-Why-Lemn-Sissay/dp/1786892340

His new children's book Don’t Ask The Dragon can be pre ordered here (released Friday 24th February 2022) https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09DZ477R5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i4

Visit Lemn’s exhibition at the Foundling Museum

https://foundlingmuseum.org.uk/event/superman-was-a-foundling/

You can find out more about Care Day here: https://careday.org/

Content: Abuse, neglect, racism, addiction. 

Should you be affected by anything raised in this episode, there is help on hand. 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. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html

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In recent years, there has been a huge change in eating habits, with many of us choosing to eat more plant-based foods. Even some of the biggest fast-food chains in the world are now offering plant-based alternatives and nearly 1 in 3 Brits drink plant-based milk alternatives. 

In this bonus episode of Changes, sponsored by Oatly, we explore this transition with the help of vegan chef Rachel Ama. We discuss why it’s happening now, the trends and the myths, along with the idea of making a plant-based diet work around your life, not rule it.

Rachel Ama became vegan 7 years ago and now has over 600k subscribers to her YouTube channel. She won the Observer Food Monthly Rising Star award in 2019, the same year she released her bestselling debut cookbook Vegan Eats, and last year she released her second cookbook, One Pot: Three Ways. You can buy those here: https://www.rachelama.com/new-page-31. Rachel is the perfect guest to speak about our new normal and share her expertise. 

Our sponsors Oatly have recently launched ‘The New Norm & Al Show’ featuring Norm & Al, oat drink carton puppets who, like many of us, are trying to navigate the switch to plant-based eating. You can stream it at https://www.oatly.com/.

Reference is made in this episode to the following survey:

https://www.mintel.com/press-centre/food-and-drink/the-cream-of-the-vegan-milk-crop-sales-of-oat-milk-overtake-almond-in-the-uk

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What entity better captured the spirit, energy, and atmosphere of the '90s than the Spice Girls? From the outside, it was a fairytale: five girls, all utterly relatable and recognisable, were plucked from obscurity and turned into the world's biggest popstars. Melanie Chisholm was one of those girls, but we didn't know her by that name. To us, she was Mel C, or Sporty Spice – and all these years later, she's still figuring out where one identity ends and the other begins. The Spice Girls, in its first iteration, was over almost as soon as it begun – just a couple of short years of world domination – but the ripple effects of that period have followed Melanie well into her adulthood. This is a conversation about the realities of becoming an overnight sensation, both positive and negative, and the long road to self-discovery.

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In this special bonus episode of Changes, Annie talks about nightclubs with The Blessed Madonna - their history, their cultural significance and their tenuous future after Covid restrictions ravaged the industry in the last two years. Through statistics, lived experience and passion for what night-clubs can do to and for a person, Marea and Annie explore exactly why clubs matter.

We couldn’t think of a better person to speak with than Marea; with years of DJing experience at some of the most treasured nightclubs in the world, from Smart Bar in Chicago to Berghain in Berlin. And fittingly, the voice of Fred again..’s ‘We’ve Lost Dancing’ song that documented the sadness, confusion and optimism of the events of last year. 

In 2021, as countries began to ease COVID-19 restrictions, iconic venues all over the globe reopened their doors to welcome back DJs and dancers. Although there were joyous moments throughout the summer and Autumn, the year of reopening did not mark the “roaring 20s'' we all predicted.

While technically open for business, many dance music venues are facing pandemic-related debts that threaten to close their doors for good. A few have been passed over for crucial reopening grants, and others were affected by another round of lockdowns. 

In 2022, dance music scenes and venues all over the globe are fighting for survival. Join Annie and The Blessed Madonna to hear their unique perspective, as they share their thoughts and stories. 

You can also watch this conversation, sponsored by Amazon Music here:

Amzn.to/ChangesPodcast

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For International Women's Day tomorrow, we wanted to highlight women who experience homelessness. The average age of death for women sleeping rough or in emergency accommodation is four years lower than a man at just 41 years old.  Women are at much greater risk of physical and sexual violence, and more likely to be struggling with complex trauma, mental health issues, physical health, domestic abuse and/or substance misuse and some are permanently separated from their children. These traumatic experiences make it harder for some women to trust support services and harder to reach to offer support. There also just isn’t enough specialist accommodation for women in England.

Someone who has experienced and witnessed all of the above is Kerri Douglas. In this episode, she shares her heartbreaking and remarkable story. After spending years on the streets battling severe substance and physical abuse as well as losing custody of her first child, she has become a force for change helping to inspire and educate others. She is now a mother to two more children (twins) and a certified substance abuse counsellor, studying for a psychology degree. The big turning point for Kerri was when she met some brilliant outreach staff from a charity dedicated to helping people who experience homelessness, called St Mungo's. The fact that Kerri is alive and thriving today is testament to her herculean strength and determination. 

Content warning: references to drug abuse, suicide, sexual abuse, miscarriage and violence. 

You can buy Kerri’s book Gutter To Glory: From Pavements to Parliament and listen to her podcast Conversations with Kerri here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blessed-Assurance-Gutter-Kerri-Douglas-ebook/dp/B07P58CX7X

https://anchor.fm/conversationswithkerri/episodes/A-Driving-Force-For-Change-e1e8gbh

https://dropthelabel.co.uk/the-blog/

You can also contact St Mungo’s or donate to the charity here:  www.mungos.org/annie

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.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danila Khomutovsky is a 38 year old Ukrainian man. He is a husband and a father to a 7 year old son, a voice artist, co-founder of the radio station Aristocrats and has lived in Kyiv for the last 10 years. 

On 24th February 2022, his life and the lives of millions was upended when Russia invaded Ukraine. Despite peace talk efforts, Russian artillery and warplanes are continuing to pound cities and towns across Ukraine. More than three million people have now fled Ukraine since Russia began its invasion — a rate of more than a million per week, the International Organisation for Migration has said. 

Danila is now taking shelter in the Ukrainian countryside and working for ICTV channel as a voice of the “Civil Defence” program, volunteering for state agencies and private studios, recording voice overs in four languages to help win the war. He reached out to Annie on instagram as a listener to Changes and they spoke on the morning of Friday 11th March 2022. 

In this important and compelling listen, Danila tells his story and experience of life in Ukraine before the war and now. 

You can find out all about Artistocrats here:

https://aristocrats.fm/

Danila can be found here:

https://m.facebook.com/100000473788642/

twitter.com/DanKhomutovskiy 

instagram.com/danila_onemoretime

https://m.soundcloud.com/danila-khomutovskiy

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This week we bring you a conversation with TV legend Scarlett Moffatt. Gogglebox legend, I’m A Celeb winner, Podcaster and now documentarian. Scarlett joined me to talk through her biggest changes, from road accidents to bell's palsy to bullying to TV stardom, to extreme celebrity to how she eventually found her way back to herself. 

Scarlett experienced brutal changes in her childhood and surreal and extreme changes in adulthood but none of them have held her back thank god. Talking to Scarlet was refreshing and uplifting and a total tonic. Hopefully listening to this will be the same for you. 

Scarlett Investigates... will be out on Channel 4 this Spring.

You can listen to Scarlett's podcast here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08c6f5x/episodes/player

Should you be affected by bullying or 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 http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html

If you like this episode you may also be interested in listening to Lisa Nealan's story: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/lisa-nealan/id1465937091?i=1000538890862

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Mark Ronson is one of the most celebrated and successful music producers around. Oscar, Golden Globes, Grammys, you name it he’s been awarded it for his services to era defining pop music. He’s made records with Amy Winehouse, Adele, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Queens Of The Stone Age, Bruno Mars, and the list goes on and on.  

Annie has interviewed Mark Ronson countless times in her career, but this was a different flex of interview, where they were able to zoom out on his whole journey, and explore his processes of music production, growing older in the music game, a new template of success, a new marriage, and how all his big personal changes are rooted in his beloved New York City (Cue Odyssey - Native New Yorker!) Enjoy!

Annie and Mark mention Yebba in this episode who you can listen back to on Changes here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/changes-with-annie-macmanus/id1465937091?i=1000535968549

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Douglas Stuart is the 2020 Booker Prize winning author. His story is one of survival, perseverance and defying people’s expectations. Douglas’ incredible debut novel Shuggie Bain was inspired by his upbringing in Glasgow, a time when he describes himself as a young queer son of a single mother struggling with addiction and poverty. Following his mother’s death, Douglas fended for himself and remarkably went on to study fashion at the Royal College of art in London where he was recognised and moved to New York to work for some of the biggest fashion brands in the world. He still lives in New York but now finally, after many rejections, as a writer, an acclaimed writer. Revisiting his past and putting pen to paper changed everything for him. 

His writing is so immersive, due to his granular descriptions of the worlds his characters inhabit. They struggle against and around brutal violence and substance use and always with the backdrop of relentless poverty. His stories are sad, and frightening and viscerally told. His books take over your world and you can’t forget them. Here he shares the story of his life changes with Annie.

Stuart’s second novel Young Mungo will be published this Thursday (14th April). You can pre order it here: https://www.douglasdstuart.com/books-1

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.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Changes Revisited is a chance to revisit some of our most compelling and entertaining episodes from the archives. This week we look back at highlights from two very different episodes and two very different people - Kelis and Dr Larch Maxey (a climate activist).

Kelis, the multi-platinum, Grammy nominated artist, fashion icon, entrepreneur, mother, and now Cordon Bleu chef and farm owner, talks about these changes in her life including going from city life to tending to animals. She also shares her unique perspective on motherhood and the power of women. It’s a favourite on Changes!

Dr Larch Maxey is a man who’s dedication to affecting change knows no boundaries. Larch is part of the Extinction Rebellion. We spoke to him in February 2021 from underground as he and a small group of other protesters occupied tunnels outside Euston station in London protesting against the high speed rail project HS2. Larch talked through fighting for what he believes in, his first experience of learning about climate change and the turning point that made him dedicate his life to activism. It was a rare, emotional and insightful conversation.

Further reading 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-am-being-punished-for-peaceful-protest-before-appearing-in-court-k992m58l8

https://juststopoil.org/

https://www.hs2rebellion.earth/

Listen to the full episodes here:

Kelis:

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/d002397ffc232691d2724ae61da43072b6f2dd1e/view

Dr Larch Maxey

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/daf25c4b320565e72dd61d7fd2e190e0c07c1376/view

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This week is Deaf Awareness Week, so we welcome Eastenders actor and 2021 Strictly Come Dancing champion Rose Ayling Ellis to Changes, our first deaf guest. Rose has been deaf since birth and is a British Sign Language user, recently backing the campaign to make it a recognised language in England. This year, Rose received the Visionary Honours Award for Inspirational Person of the Year whilst her appearance on Strictly last year has significantly helped in changing people’s perceptions of deaf people and given confidence to the deaf community. Her Couple's Choice dance with her dance partner Giovanni Pernice featured a period of silence as a tribute to the deaf community and became an award winning TV Moment of the Year. Since her appearance on Strictly there has been a 4000 per cent increase in uptake of British Sign Language classes!

Rose creates change just by being present, showing what she is capable of and breaking down barriers. She boldly seeks to change perceptions and the law to make life fairer for the deaf community. She’s also irresistibly charming. 

We are delighted to say that Changes is now an accessible podcast for deaf people. You can find a transcript of this episode and all future episodes on the below website, please spread the word. 

https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes

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This week it is Mental Health Awareness Week so to talk through his own journey, specifically his experience with psychosis, is actor, director and now author, David Harewood, best known for his roles as CIA Counterterrorism Director David Estes in Homeland.

From Birmingham, born to parents from Barbados, David has had huge success on stage, in TV and in Hollywood. Yet, in his recent memoir ‘Maybe I Don’t Belong Here’, David details the racial abuse he suffered as a black British boy and man growing up in the UK, abuse which ultimately led to, as he describes, his “unravelling” and being sectioned under the Mental Health Act twice. His BAFTA nominated BBC documentary David Harewood: My Psychosis and Me is shocking and insightful particularly around the difference in psychiatric treatment of black people in hospitals. In this episode he talks through his life and experience, the things that led to his psychosis, the voices in his head, the contrasts between America and the UK and how he became a successful actor despite all of this psychological upheaval and racial abuse. 

His book Maybe I Don’t Belong Here is crucial reading. You can buy it here:

https://linktr.ee/DavidHarewood

Changes is now a deaf friendly podcast. You can access transcripts here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes

Content references: racism, racist abuse, psychotic episodes. 

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.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Lycett is one of Britain's most loved comedians affecting change through his comedy in the most brilliant and beautiful ways. Not one to shy away from the bigger issues at play, Joe invites people to think, and actively questions about the systems we live in. After the death of his friend who died in lockdown, a change which has had a huge impact on Joe’s life, his mockery of the official inquiry into party gate by tweeting a fake Sue Grey report made headlines. Even the Government was concerned there was a serious leak! And, as you will hear, a chance meeting with Conservative MP Nadine Dorries at the BAFTAs went really well!

Joe is also an artist, pansexual and openly addresses LGBTQ+ issues in his work.  His current UK tour More More More! How Do You Lycett? How Do You Lycett? does just that and has a big reveal which Joe has been working on for years, a show which confirms just how possible it is to change communities for the better. 

We love Joe. This episode will show you the changes that fuelled his life today, why he does what he does and the changes he still wants. 

You can find ticket details to Joe’s tour here:

https://joelycett.com/Comedy

You can find Joe’s tweeted fake Sue Grey Report here:

https://bit.ly/3PfCPQf

BIG NEWS! Changes is going Live on 24th May at the Podcast Show in London with drag queen Ella Vaday! Find out more and buy your tickets here:

https://www.thepodcastshowlondon.com/home

https://thepodcastshowlondon.seetickets.com/event/changes-with-annie-macmanus/business-design-centre/2338017

Changes is now a deaf friendly podcast and you can access transcripts here, spread the word! https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roddy Doyle is a cultural beacon of Ireland and an absolute joy to listen to. In this episode the renowned novelist speaks to Annie about art, identity, growing older and a changing Ireland. Roddy won the Booker Prize in 1993 for his seminal novel Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, and is the author of eleven acclaimed novels including The Commitments, The Snapper,The Van and Smile. Roddy grew up in Dublin in the 60s and talks in this episode about his really uncomfortable experience of attending a Christian Brothers School in Ireland and how that shaped him, how he started out as a writer, bad reviews, his use of the Dublin dialect, and how becoming a Father didn’t just change when he wrote but how he wrote. 

Content warning: references to sexual abuse of children and corporal punishment. 

You can find more about Roddy’s work and buy his books here:

http://www.roddydoyle.ie/index.html

BIG NEWS! Changes is going Live tomorrow on 24th May at the Podcast Show in London with drag queen Ella Vaday! Find out more and buy your tickets here:

https://www.thepodcastshowlondon.com/home

https://thepodcastshowlondon.seetickets.com/event/changes-with-annie-macmanus/business-design-centre/2338017

Changes is now a deaf friendly podcast and you can access transcripts here, spread the word! https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Long Covid is something which has changed many people’s lives, Kate Weinberg is one of them. According to the Office for National Statistics 1.3 million people in the UK were experiencing Long Covid symptoms as of 2 January 2022. Of those people more than four in 10 (so 42 per cent) were experiencing Long Covid symptoms more than a year after their first suspected infection. But what is it? How does it impact people? And most importantly, how do people get better? 

Kate Weinberg is an author who was at the height of her career having released her first novel ‘Traunts’ to great acclaim when she got Covid, which then developed into Long Covid. She is also a journalist and since suffering with Long Covid has written about her experience, being completely debilitated by it and coming through the other side 18 months later. In this episode, Kate shares the many symptoms she had, the countless things she has tried and tested and what she has learnt along the way and through her research. Long Covid has changed her. Much of what Kate has been through and felt could also apply to other long term conditions and will be relatable to many. Kate is incredibly articulate and we hope this will be a helpful insight for anyone suffering or supporting others. 

You may find the following websites useful for further information, statistics, advice and tips on symptoms:

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health/long-covid

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/long-term-effects-of-coronavirus-long-covid/

https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/what-is-covid-19/long-covid/

We must note the first port of call for anyone with covid symptoms should be your GP. 

You can find more about Kate and buy her novel here: https://www.kateweinbergwriter.com/

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The first ever live guest for Changes!! Ella Vaday is the drag persona of Nick Collier and self-proclaimed “drag beast from Dagenham East” who dominated the UK’s third series of Drag Race UK, almost winning. In this special episode recorded in front of a live audience at the London Podcast Show, Nick explains how despite appearances he hasn’t always been so confident in his identity. 

As a young boy Nick went through numerous challenging changes in quick succession and was always in denial about being gay unti much later in life. Here, he discusses how he came through these changes, came out to his family and starred in West End musicals like Wicked, Book of Mormon, Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat and Cats. That is before the pandemic forced him to stop rehearsing for Hairspray and start stacking shelves in Morrisons. It was then that Nick honed his skills as drag queen Ella Vaday, on instagram, in lockdown before applying for Drag Race, the rest, as they say, is history! This is a conversation about identity, gender conditioning, starting things later in life, believing in yourself to overcome setbacks and how we can change the world if we can just allow ourselves to to live our truth!  

Changes is now a deaf friendly podcast and you can access transcripts here, spread the word! https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, ahead of Glastonbury, we welcome to Changes the incredible powerhouse that is Irish singer Róisín Murphy! Former frontwoman of Moloko and a solo artist with five solo albums to her name, nominations for the Mercury Music Prize, the Brit Awards and the Ivor Novello Awards and an icon in the world of fashion, with incredibly extravagant stage outfits and wild performances to match. She’s the queen of electronic music. Bold, unafraid and uniquely herself. No one exists like Róisín Murphy. Born in Arklow in Ireland, she moved with her family when she was 12 to Manchester. It was here that her life got turned upside down experiencing huge changes at a young age and ultimately immersed herself in music. Fearless, unique and not to be missed, on stage or otherwise. 

Find out more here:

https://www.roisinmurphyofficial.com/

Róisín has two playlists she curates and updates regularly on Spotify you can listen to here:

Mum's Old School:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3GLct83KuPD9lfpPcSa7ON?si=54b69510fa3e448a

Róisín Caviar:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6ewxLnbONaLb2keK5fCTC9?si=b7c1420ccf07495e

Changes is a deaf friendly podcast and you can access transcripts here, spread the word! https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been 3 years but finally Glastonbury will be back in all its magnificent glory this week. The biggest festival in the world. A festival like no other. To get excited, co-organiser Emily Eavis made a visit to Annie’s rave shed to talk about all things change; personal change and changes at the festival which turned 50 in 2020! This year back on Worthy Farm in Somerset, the family and 200,000 revellers will finally be able to properly celebrate. Emily grew up on Worthy Farm so has witnessed it evolve since the 80s, taking on the role of co-organiser after her mum died when Emily was 19. Since then, she has had her own family and made her mark on Glastonbury, a festival with the most legendary line ups of all time. Annie and Emily talk through early memories, the festival's beginnings and roots, personal highlights and that defining moment of booking Jay Z to headline in 2008. All hail Emily Eavis.

Changes 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.

This is a conversation about class, identity, ambition and grief. It's Grace Dent stripped back. Grace is a broadcaster, columnist, author, award winning food critic and now host of the brilliant podcast Comfort Eating. But she is also just a woman from humble working-class beginnings who grew up in Carlisle in the north of England and grafted and adapted to get to where she is today. Despite now living a glittering media life in London, appearing on MasterChef, dining in some of the best restaurants in the world and critiquing the food of Michelin star chefs, Grace has never forgotten where she is from or shied away from who she is - her accent, relationship to money, her perspective, all of which is covered here. She also lost her mum last year and dealt with her Dad having dementia before he died, experiences that changed her and which she doesn’t shy away from. 

In her own words, “why on earth did I choose those subjects, they’re so intimate and confessional”. But that is why this conversation is so illuminating, from Carlisle to London to facing mortality, it’s real, relatable and heartfelt. 

Grace's memoir Hungry: A memoir of wanting more can be bought here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hungry-Highly-Anticipated-Greatest-Writers/dp/0008333173

You can also currently watch Grace hosting a new show with Ainsley Harriott called Best of British By The Sea for Channel 4

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/best-of-britain-by-the-sea

Changes is now a deaf friendly podcast please spread the word. You can access transcripts here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the age of 20, Lady Unchained went to prison. She didn’t believe she was the type of person who would ever do that. She went to church, was about to launch her own business and had no former convictions, but one day everything changed. She spent eleven months behind bars and five months tagged. Inside, she faced systemic racism and had to adapt to survive. It changed her, and leaving prison, she realised she was facing an uphill battle in changing people’s perceptions. Here, she shares her gripping account of her story leading up to, during and after her prison sentence. 

Since her release, Lady Unchained has made it her mission to become an advocate for life after prison - a poet, performer, award winning broadcaster and now author with her new book ‘Behind Bars: On punishment, prison & release’. She is the Founder and Creative Director of Unchained Poetry, an artistic platform for artists with lived experience of the Criminal Justice System and runs poetry workshops in prisons and in Women Centres. 

This is an inspiring and moving conversation. It will make you think, perhaps even change you.

Content warning: references to suicide and racist 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.html

You can buy Lady Unchained’s book Behind Bars: On punishment, prison & release here:

https://linktr.ee/lady_unchained

https://www.unchainedpoetry.com/

Changes 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.

Big Zuu is changing the face of television. From growing up on the Mozart Estate in West London to winning two BAFTAs for Big Zuu's Big Eats, delivering a powerful acceptance speech, he is a shining example of what people can achieve given the chance. Big Zuu’s mum arrived in the UK from Sierra Leone when she was pregnant. Since then, together, they have navigated changing circumstances, with Big Zuu studying to be a youth worker before becoming a rapper/grime MC and now huge TV personality and chef, winning people over by being unapologetically himself - upbeat, fun, charismatic, warm. He’s a man people want around and luckily for us we will be seeing much more of him. In this conversation he walks us through the biggest changes in his life from his humble beginnings to now and importantly, the changes he’d like to see. 

Watch

Hungry For It, out now on BBC Three

Big Zuu’s Big Eats Series 3, just returned to Dave on Mondays 

Sneakerhead, Zuu’s acting debut, out on Wednesday 13th July on Dave

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denise Gough is a double Olivier Award winning actress having blown away critics in the plays People, Places and Things and Angels in America, but before seeing her name in lights, Denise was a homeless drug addict begging on Shaftesbury Avenue. This is her account of her remarkable story of change, from a small town in Ireland to being one of the most in demand actresses today. That success includes starring alongside Keira Knightly in Collette, giving a phenomenally powerful performance in a psychological crime drama Too Close on ITV with Emily Watson and this summer becoming an even bigger star in the new Star Wars series Andor. Denise’s story is one of tragic revelations from her childhood in Ireland, where she grew up with 10 brothers and sisters, coming to terms with the experiences that she lived through and ultimately now owning her past and using it to be able to touch people through her acting today.

Content warning: references to child abuse, sexual abuse and drug addiction.

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.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do people commit violent crimes? Do we all have the capacity to be evil? And is it possible to change the mind of a murderer? 

This week on Changes, we speak to one of Britain’s leading forensic psychiatrists Dr Gwen Adshead, co-author of the Sunday Times Bestseller The Devil You Know: Encounters in Forensic Psychiatry. Dr Adshead has spent over thirty years providing therapy inside secure hospitals and prisons like Broadmoor working with violent offenders who have committed terrible crimes - serial homicide, stalking, arson. Her job is to help them to better know their minds and in turn understand why people do what they do. In this conversation, we look at the concept of evil, her work and lessons learnt, her experiences and the benefits of therapy. It will challenge you, it may even change how you think about offenders and evil. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are revisiting highlights from two very prominent people in British Media - Romesh Ranganathan and Katie Price.

Romesh is one of the UK’s most successful comedians but as you will hear in this conversation he experienced seismic changes in his life before he became famous. His whole world was turned upside down as a child when within the space of six months, his house was repossessed, he changed schools, his mum found out his dad was having an affair and his dad went to prison! Here we revisit him telling us about his childhood and relationship with his Dad after these events. 

Katie Price, best known as a glamour model ‘Jordan’ has had a rollercoaster of a life, so this episode in March 2021 was the same. She discussed her early days and fame, her relationships (she’s been married 3 times), her five children, online abuse and feeling more herself. But here we revisit Katie telling us about her mental health, what was then her recent stay in the Priory and her relationship with the press. 

Listen to the full episodes here:

Romesh Ranganathan

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/6c73fb35adf9f5a1b1667634f5086aeb09d98778/view

Katie Price

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/ca37ffd7ecfa29c243f45d9a3caaaca2b2b55144/view

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we revisit highlights from two impactful episodes, the incredible author Zadie Smith and Jhemar Jonas who’s brother Michael was fatally stabbed to death.

Since the night of his brother’s death, when Jhemar was 16, Jhemar has been trying to change the world advocating for youth-led solutions to violence and knife crime. He has mentored students and provided consultancy for City Hall, the Metropolitan police and Google about youth culture and violence prevention. He’s also a rapper who goes by the name of Rippa. The episode is one of Annie's favourites to date, an essential listen for an insight into the problem of knife crime in London. Here, we revisit that fateful night he lost his brother, as well as how Jhemar’s own mentor has changed his life. 

Highly celebrated, bestselling and award winning author Zadie Smith spoke to us about New York and coming home. In her early days she wrote about her experiences as a young black woman growing up in London and changed the landscape in the publishing world. She spoke to Annie during lockdown when she had just written six personal, powerful and reflective essays called Intimations exploring ideas and questions around the new reality during the pandemic and the things it made her reflect on including socialism and the dangers of individualism. Zadie had just moved back from New York to her home city of London, when Trump was still President, and spoke about that change, the events of 2020 and the differences between the two cities.

Listen to the full episodes here:

Jhemar Jonas

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/374003823e75775dd520a560e71f7e88c7b1b8fc/view

Zadie Smith 

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/04620326c73bb820b8cc28750958f7811ee42d59/view

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking back at some stand out episodes, this week we revisit Davina McCall and Billy Porter. 

National treasure and TV legend Davina McCall has become a voice for women going through menopause raising awareness and understanding. She has also been through a lot in her life, here talking about being left with her Granny as a child and her subsequent fear of abandonment which she unintentionally came to face as an adult with a hypnotist. She also spoke so openly about her experience and knowledge of the menopause. We revisit some important lessons. 

Billy Porter, the incomparable Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award winning actor, singer, writer and fashion icon literally sings to you about change here. In spite of all his success with Kinky Boots, Pose, a Strange Loop and so much more, Billy has had a difficult life leading up to it with a lot of trauma. He has overcome huge obstacles, prejudices and changes in his life, so we had to revisit this episode and his relationship to change. Billy’s directorial debut Anything's Possible is now out on Amazon Prime. 

Content warning: references child abuse and homophobia

Listen to the full episodes here:

Davina McCall 

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/d05c49b36647de927e41b9b57dc24c68ae04c73e/view

Billy Porter

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/b0b7620c4ec62f86dc1850cf9c439a21239ec115/view

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are revisiting actress and director Billie Piper and Bexy Cameron who was born into a cult called the Children of God.

Billie Piper has been famous since she was 14, first a popstar then an award winning actress often playing complicated female characters, starring in Doctor Who, Secret Diary of A Call Girl, Collateral, I Hate Suzie, Yerma (for which she won 6 best actress awards) and, in 2021, Rare Beasts, which she wrote and directed. On Changes, Billie opened up about her life, relationships and early fame and the impact of that on her, including having to answer inappropriate questions in high profile interviews. 

Bexy Cameron, was born into one of the world’s most notorious cults called the Children of God which her parents became the leaders of. She was 9 years old when she experienced her first exorcism. Children in the cult were raised to believe that sex was love and there were no boundaries. Bexy escaped and is now leading a happy life and is able to speak about what happened to her having written a book about her experience called 'Cult Following: My Escape and Return to the Children of God'. Here we revisit the beginning of her story before she escaped. 

Content warning: child abuse is referenced

You can buy Cult Following: My Escape and Return to the Children of God by Bexy Cameron here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cult-Following-escape-return-Children/dp/1786580926

Listen to the full episodes here:

Billie Piper

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/8a434451433883c231836d9712570fe60355a3e8/view

Bexy Cameron 

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/c6f46ccbea3e9988fb9e901a3cfdd9a26e639543/view

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In August 2015 author Katherine May set out to walk the 630-mile south west coast path. Setting her feet down on the rugged and difficult path by the sea answers long standing questions. What followed was the journey of self discovery documented in her book The Electricity of Every Living Thing which has just been adapted into an immersive Audible Original drama.

This week, we invited Katherine to talk about the physical and psychological journey that she undertook in the Electricity of Every Living Thing. Katherine kindly and patiently tells us her story of discovery, the repercussions of growing up unaware that she was autistic, the ways she coped and struggled and masked over the years, the profound relief of being able to put a name and a community around her experiences, and how nature has become her best friend, in all its sensory glory. 

Katherine’s story gives a life affirming message of what it means to be different and how we handle change within ourselves.

The Electricity of Every Living Thing is now available as an Audible Original immersive audio drama. Listen for free with your 30-day trial at audible.co.uk. From £7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See audible.co.uk/FT for eligibility

Changes is now a deaf friendly podcast. You can access transcripts here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes

If you've been affected by today's show or want further resources around autism or autism diagnosis please visit: https://katherine-may.co.uk/autism-resource-page

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get ready for a South Dublin takeover! Annie is joined by the Irish comedian Joanne McNally, who, as well as hosting the phenomenally successful podcast ‘My Therapist Ghosted Me’ with her friend Vogue Williams, has sold out 60 nights at the Vicar Street venue in Dublin with her stand up show The Prosecco Express (that’s 63,000 tickets for that venue alone), played 4 sold out shows at the Palladium in London and recently sold out the Apollo with extra dates added. 

As the Guardian says, 'she radiates relatability; she’s able to sum up many women’s innermost thoughts and feelings with lightning wit and an invariably hilarious turn of phrase.'

In her late thirties now, Joanne has had a completely unconventional route to comedy success, taking in seven years to complete her university degree, a phase working in PR, and spell in an eating disorder recovery programme. Joanne is unflinchingly honest and open about her life and this episode is predictably hilarious but also revealing and inspiring for anyone who feels like they are lost or unsure of what their path in life is. 

Content: eating disorders are discussed.

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 and you can access transcripts here, spread the word! https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes

For tickets head to: https://www.joannemcnally.com/

Listen to My Therapist Ghosted Me Here: https://podfollow.com/1560176558/view

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s fair to say Robbie Williams knows a thing or two about change - catapulted from Stoke On Trent to superstar fame as a teenager in Take That before becoming one of the best selling artists of all time, a spotlight which came with relentless scrutiny and pressures. Robbie has achieved 13 number one UK albums, a record 18 Brit Awards and sold 80 million records worldwide. Today, he is a husband and father to four children, makes his own art which was showcased at Sotheby’s in London and has just released a new album, ‘XXV’ celebrating 25 years as a solo artist. There’s also a big tour coming up and a biopic of his life being made called ‘Better Man’, so it felt like a good time to speak to Robbie about the changes that have defined his life. 

In this conversation we get a real insight into his childhood, what it really felt like to join Take That, the fame game and its impact, his purpose and why he’s up for trying new things, including his first experience of DJing in Ibiza. As you’d expect Robbie is incredibly giving and doesn’t shy away from the big stuff.

You can buy tickets to Robbie's tour and buy the new album here: https://robbiewilliams.com/

Content: references to suicide and drug use

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.html

Changes is a deaf friendly podcast and you can access transcripts here, spread the word! https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During early lockdown, in response to these extraordinary times, the bestselling, award winning author Zadie Smith wrote six personal, powerful and reflective essays exploring ideas and questions around our new reality. In this honest conversation, Zadie talks with Annie about the change the world has seen through her own personal experience in both New York and back in her home city of London and the differences between them. She reflects on what we notice about ourselves and our relationship between time and work, homeschooling, what other other people mean to us, community, the danger of individualism, and the importance of art. This conversation was recorded at the end of July 2020. Read the new collection of essays, Intimations - all royalties go to charity. You can buy a copy here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/321/321775/intimations/9780241492383.html

Content Warning: this episode discusses the effects of Covid 19 and events that occurred during lockdown including brief references to mass death and violent protests. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can knowing more about the Universe change your life? Professor Brian Cox has the answer. A Former rock star turned physicist who has gone from playing keys in the band D:Ream, which had a UK No. 1 hit with "Things Can Only Get Better", to becoming everyone’s favourite physicist selling out arenas around the world with his fascinating shows about the Universe.

Brian has previously been compared to David Attenborough in the science world having presented numerous documentaries for the BBC including the ‘Wonders of’ series, starting with ‘Wonders of the Solar System’. He’s also co-written 8 books with his latest ‘Black Holes: The Key to Understanding the Universe’ coming out in October. 

This episode will make you think about our significance in the Universe and maybe even change your mind about your ability to change things - Brian's certainly tried to do that with our world leaders delivering a definite mic drop moment which he relives here.

You can buy tickets to the world tour of Horizons – A 21st Century Space Odyssey with Brian and comedian Robin Ince here: https://briancoxlive.co.uk/

You can also pre order Brian’s new book here:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/black-holes/professor-brian-cox/professor-jeffrey-forshaw/9780008597061

Changes is a deaf friendly podcast and you can access transcripts here, spread the word! https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Changes, we welcome Shon Faye journalist and author of The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice, the biggest selling book on this topic in Britain and a Sunday Times Bestseller. Shon also hosts the podcast Call Me Mother which features conversations with LGBTQ+ trailblazers about what it means to be queer today. Shon’s book has been described as both urgent and important and something which everyone should read. It presents the facts about trans people in Britain today uncovering the reality of what it means to be trans in a transphobic society whilst offering solutions.

Here Shon talks Annie through her changes, her own experience of being trans, media misrepresentation, education, family, shame, addiction and love.

Content warning: references are made to abuse, alcoholism and drug addiction.

You can buy Shon’s book The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Transgender-Issue-Argument-Justice/dp/0241423147

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.html

Changes is a deaf friendly podcast and you can access transcripts here, spread the word! 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/changes

If 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/view

Should 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.

‘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.html

Changes 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.

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.html

Sophie mentions Lemn Sissay who’s Changes episode can be found here: 

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/d006cf556767a3eb86b4249eb1704a789cb3d618/view

Changes 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.

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/changes

Should 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.

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/changes

Should 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.

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.

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/1526621835

Listen to Griefcast: https://play.acast.com/s/griefcast

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.html

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/9780571332090

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nine-Lives-Goldie/dp/0340824786

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 here: http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html

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.

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/B00J8PGGI8

Beeban'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.

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.

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/podcast

Buy ‘Soft Lad’: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soft-Lad-collection-stories-about/dp/1399703307

Listen to the full episodes here:

Nick Grimshaw

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/3c329f3e35b56bbc18f706c65fbaa354670c469e/view

Prue Leith

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/6f830a1d930611c1940ca0d953ff5bda8927ec02/view

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 Doherty

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/73154a0e981aaeea323f5c71eae4aa5e5387c47d/view

Caitlin Moran

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/3e730ec6830f51a1daabd7e9cb1cf21e4b5a6715/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:

Robyn

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/d0bff10e097d9c2b0b2c166b0657fe49ec512b0f/view

Hassan Akkad

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/d2a3a497f3be82eced4eb58d063d0a9e31940f47/view

Buy '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.

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 T

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/2c1686576ca68056aaf70b004dfab36fc7cfb969/view

Scattered Minds by Gabor Mate 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scattered-Minds-Origins-Attention-Disorder/dp/1785042211

Danila Khomutovsky

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/2bd75dec089ff7d898dd313a0db2905a2eba2e31/view

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.

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.

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/changes

Content 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.

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.

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.

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/changes

Warning: contains descriptions of physical and sexual abuse and inappropriate sexual misconduct on film sets.

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.

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.