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

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Jen Brister

DJ Annie Macmanus chats to artists, writers, musicians and a host of fascinating people about CHANGE. Each guest talks through the biggest changes they have overcome in childhood and adulthood, and how they effect change. The podcast explores how change punctuates our lives, how it can totally derail us and define who we are. How we confront it, react to it and how we try to activate change has never been more important than in this moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Spring is here(!) and we begin our new season with global phenomenon Marian Keyes. Marian is one of Ireland’s most prolific and successful writers of all time with her books having sold over 35 million copies worldwide.
Marian has won multiple awards and is an expert in honest storytelling. She writes characters you’ll love with imperfections you’ll recognise and her wisdom is felt in every story she tells. 
In this refreshing, funny and unfiltered conversation, Marian discusses her upbringing in Ireland and how this affected her aspirations in life, her experience of addiction in her 20s, the monumental change of becoming sober, especially when it comes to love and self acceptance, being 60, a woman’s right to enjoy sex and and ultimately why she refuses to hide or lie about anything (hello botox). 
How lucky we are to have Marian Keyes in the world! 
Marian’s new book ‘My Favourite Mistake’ is available to buy now. https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/316031/my-favourite-mistake-by-keyes-marian/9780241441145
GET IN TOUCH Contact us at changespod@gmail.com with your emails and voice notes.
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.

Marian Keyes

In this week’s Changes Focus we are zooming in on parenting. Whether you are a parent yourself or not, we have all been parented in some way and many of us spend time around people who are parents. We therefore all have experience of parenting and the huge effect it has on our lives. It is no surprise that many of our guests on Changes choose becoming a parent as the biggest change of their adult life. 
In this hilarious and heartwarming episode, author Zadie Smith gives her profound thoughts about why having children has changed her outlook on freedom, Annie’s husband Toddla T talks about his ADHD and how this affects his parenting, comedian Jen Brister gets into the difficulties of talking about porn with kids and comedian and host of the ‘Parenting Hell’ podcast, Josh Widdicombe, remembers his misguided thoughts about labour and gets real about the reality of being a father. 
Has parenting changed you? Let us know at changespod@gmail.com

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

Changes Focus: Parenting - Zadie Smith, Toddla T, Josh Widdicombe and Jen Brister

Introducing Changes Focus! where we zoom in on one popular Changes theme and bring you multiple takes from different guests. 
In this episode the focus is Education. Our younger educational years can really define us, so much change and growth can happen. Many of our amazing guests have cited their school or university years as experiences that shaped their lives drastically. Their stories explore the highs and lows of education such as bullying, fitting in, integrating into new schools and young love.
In this reflective episode, you will hear from writer Dolly Alderton who looks back at the difficulties she faced as a teenager at an all girls school, comedian Rosie Jones on the life defining change of going to a mainstream school as a child with cerebral palsy, broadcaster Louis Theroux and actor Idris Elba who both discuss their experiences of changing schools at a young age and the impact that had and, finally, actor Michael Sheen recounts some of his early experiences of romance during his school years in Wales.
What Changes did you experience in education? Let us know at changespod@gmail.com



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Changes Focus: Education - Dolly Alderton, Louis Theroux,  Idris Elba, Rosie Jones and Michael Sheen

Viva la season finale! Where we welcome a total trailblazer and change maker, the iconic sports broadcast Gabby Logan. In her almost 30 year career, Gabby has been at the centre of phenomenal change in a predominantly male dominated industry. She has presented many of the country's biggest sporting events including the Olympics, the Commonwealth games, the World Cup and the 2022 Euros which changed the face of women's football in Britain when the Lionesses won. Gabby has paved the way for other women and played a vital role in the promotion of women’s sport. On top of all this, Gabby has received an MBE, is the host of two hit podcasts; ‘The MidPoint’ and, the brand new, ‘The Sports Agents’ which she co-hosts with fellow broadcaster Mark Chapman, and has even found the time to write her memoir ‘The First Half’.
In this inspiring episode, Annie and Gabby discuss the slow but important changes in sports and broadcasting for women, the parallels in their careers - navigating being the token woman and bringing others through, how her upbringing in a sporty family with a footballer father helped shape her career, and how a tragic death of her brother in her teens taught her about dealing with grief and making the most of life. 
Gabby’s podcast The Sports Agents is available now https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/42Kx2B/
GET IN TOUCH Contact us at changespod@gmail.com with your emails and voice notes.
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.

Gabby Logan

The day after St Patrick’s day, we welcome an astonishing Irish woman who epitomises change; Katriona O’Sullivan’s incredible no.1 bestselling memoir ‘Poor’ has dominated Irish bestseller lists for 10 months. The book documents her life - from living in poverty raised by parents who were heroin addicts, becoming pregnant and homeless at 15 to changing everything and completing a PHD at Trinity College in Dublin after a life changing encounter. Today Katriona is a psychologist and award winning lecturer at Maynooth University challenging barriers to education for working class and disadvantaged children. As Barry Keoghan of Saltburn says, ‘Katriona is a legend’. 
Even now ‘Poor’ is at number one in the Irish Non Fiction bestseller charts and won Biography of the Year and  the Listeners' Choice Award, at the Irish Book Awards 2023. 
In this unforgettable episode, the now “Dr.” Katriona O’Sullivan, talks about her life in poverty, including her relationship with her parents, myths and privilege, how she changed her life and the people who were fundamental to that happening, who she thinks holds the keys to change and ultimately why we must help children to flourish, have hope and opportunities.
Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan is out in paperback 18th April and is published by Penguin. You can pre order it here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/452168/poor-by-osullivan-katriona/9780241996768
GET IN TOUCH Contact us at changespod@gmail.com with your emails and voice notes.
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

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