Changes with Annie Macmanus

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.