This conversation is astonishing. Prepare to be completely engrossed and moved beyond belief by the phenomenal Decca Aitkenhead. The Chief Interviewer at the Sunday Times, Decca talks so beautifully with a warmth and lightness that contrasts with what she has lived through. The love story between her and her late husband Tony is like nothing else you have ever heard before.

Tragically, in 2014, Decca Aitkenhead’s husband Tony died while they were on holiday in Jamaica with their two young sons. A life shattering change. Here, Decca talks about why Tony was the most interesting person she has ever met - himself transforming his life in very surprising ways and describes how, throwing all logic out of the window, he completely changed her life. She also reflects on that fateful day, suddenly being a single mum and magical thinking.

Decca Aitkenhead’s top tier journalism has seen her interviewing the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Hilary Clinton and Johnny Depp. Her long list of writing achievements include the Catherine Pakenham Award, Interviewer of the year and the BBC’s Russell literary prize. Her memoir ‘All At Sea’ was nominated for the 2017 PEN Ackerley prize and tells her story with a raw vulnerability and depth.

Caution: this episode discusses sudden death, cancer and references drug addiction.

Buy Decca's book 'All At Sea' here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-at-Sea-Decca-Aitkenhead/dp/0008142149

Read Decca's articles for The Times here: https://www.thetimes.com/profile/decca-aitkenhead

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

Please Note: The transcript is automatically generated in case you come across any typos or misquotes during your reading. Enjoy the episode.

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

From inside Ruby Wax’s bedroom, Annie gets up close and personal about Ruby’s life changes - from her troubled childhood and creating a comic persona as a result, feeling like a freak when she became a mother to those famous interviews on ‘When Ruby Wax Met,’ which changed how she was perceived.

Ruby’s latest book and touring one-woman play, ‘I’m Not as Well as I Thought I Was’ saw Ruby trying to find meaning by going on life changing journeys but it ended with her being in a mental clinic again. Here, Annie and Ruby discuss the ups and downs of mental illness, the juxtaposition of that with being funny and how she really is now.

Ruby Wax was a fearless pioneer of the celebrity interview with her groundbreaking BBC series including interviews with Sharon Stone, Bette Midler, Madonna, Donald Trump, Bill Cosby and many more (each of which she reacts to here). Beyond her TV fame, Ruby is a prolific author with seven Sunday Times bestselling books including ‘Sane New World’, ‘A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled', and ‘How to be Human’. With a degree in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy from Oxford University, Ruby has bravely shared her own struggles with mental illness and her tireless efforts in this field have earned her an OBE. But, has mindfulness and her studies changed her life?

You can buy Ruby's books and book tickets to her tour ‘I’m Not as Well as I Thought I Was’ here:

https://www.rubywax.net/books

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

Please Note: The transcript is automatically generated in case you come across any typos or misquotes during your reading. Enjoy the episode.

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

Jack Rooke is the recent BAFTA winning comic genius behind the incredible multi award winning sitcom Big Boys.

Jack won his BAFTA for Best Comedy Writer after using his own life experience of losing his Dad, when Jack was 15, to write and narrate Big Boys. The show follows Jack leaving his mum to go to University where he navigates making new friends and exploring being gay, something he hasn’t told his mum yet.

Big Boys was adapted from Jack’s debut show Good Grief and his second show Happy Hour which was commissioned by Soho Theatre. Both received critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He’s also had a documentary on BBC 3 called Happy Man exploring alternatives to the male mental health crisis and published a memoir called Cheer the F**k Up. His work is both hilarious and sad with smart, spit your drink out laughing moments. This conversation is no exception.

Now 30, Jack talks about success in your 20s, what losing a parent so young does to someone, how his grief has changed, why humour is so important to him and, in his opinion, in all life situations, Big Boys being seen as radical and new tattoos.

You can watch both series of Big Boys on Channel 4 https://www.channel4.com/programmes/big-boys.

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

Please Note: The transcript is automatically generated in case you come across any typos or misquotes during your reading. Enjoy the episode.

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

Imagine being forced to leave your country for being gay or face death. This Refugee Week, we welcome Aderonke Apata, a Nigerian refugee who had to leave Nigeria under threat of persecution for being in love with a woman. When she reached the UK, she embarked on a 13-year battle through the UK immigration system including periods of homelessness, detention and near deportation. She was also accused of lying about her sexuality. Her lover in Nigeria was sadly killed. Today, Aderonke has trained to be a barrister and is an expert on immigration law helping others who are going through a similar experience to hers. She founded the African Rainbow Family in Manchester, highlighting the importance of providing support and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers.

In this deeply moving and enlightening conversation Aderonke discusses her experience, the complexities of sexuality and asylum claims, the astounding and brave changes she has made in her life to live as a proud lesbian and her desire to make change for others. Aderonke’s story is a testament to the power of hope and the resilience of the human spirit.

Refugee Week is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity, and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Taking place every year in the week around World Refugee Day on 20th June, Refugee Week encourages understanding and solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers through arts, culture, and educational events. This Refugee Week, let’s stand in solidarity with those who have faced unimaginable hardships in their pursuit of safety and acceptance.

Warning this episode references homophobia, sexual abuse, violence and murder

For more information visit:

www.refugeeweek.org

www.africanrainbowfamily.org

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

Please Note: The transcript is automatically generated in case you come across any typos or misquotes during your reading. Enjoy the episode.

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

Vernon Kay is one of the most recognised people on British TV and radio known for his infectious smile and warm Bolton accent. He first made his mark on Channel 4’s T4 in the early 2000s and has since hosted popular shows like All Star Family Fortunes and Comic Relief. In 2020 he appeared on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! He has been presenting shows on BBC radio since 2004, most recently taking over the coveted mid-morning radio show on BBC Radio 2, following in the footsteps of Ken Bruce. Last year, Vernon raised over £6,000,000 for Children In Need, by running an Ultra-Ultramarathon from Leicester to Bolton.

Vernon has been married to Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly for 20 years. Together, they have two daughters and are one of the UK's most beloved showbiz couples.

In this funny and candid conversation, Vernon discusses joining BBC Radio 2 and the connection he built with listeners during his Children In Need challenge, navigating his career and how showbusiness has changed since he started, his youth, his enduring marriage to Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly and the joys and challenges of balancing family life with a demanding career. He also talks about his work encouraging men to talk openly about their feelings and his evolving perceptions of happiness and success.

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

Please Note: The transcript is automatically generated in case you come across any typos or misquotes during your reading. Enjoy the episode.

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

Miranda July’s staggering new novel ‘All Fours’ might just completely change the way you think about your life.

Miranda is not one for sticking to the rules. An LA based artist, writer and award-winning filmmaker, she has been creating unapologetic, boundary pushing work since her involvement in the Riot Grrrl feminist movement of the 1990s, where she gained recognition for her zines and performance art. She has gone on to create across many mediums, including her breakthrough 2005 feature film debut, "Me and You and Everyone We Know," which she wrote, directed, and starred in. The film garnered critical acclaim, winning the prestigious Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

You might have noticed Miranda July’s name popping up all over the place since the release of ‘All Fours’ last month, and there is a reason why. This book is astonishing. It takes everything you think you know about what it means to be a woman in mid life, a mother, a lover, a friend, and makes you rethink it all. The story follows a woman in her forties who embarks on a physical and metaphorical journey of rediscovering herself.

In this episode Annie and Miranda unpick some of the brilliant themes from the book including the institution of marriage, motherhood, perimenopause, hormones, sex, as well as real experiences from post menopausal women (positives and negatives). They also discuss Miranda’s upbringing, her personal changes and how her life bleeds into her work. Listen to this episode and then go and buy this book immediately.

Warning: this episode discusses suicide, please be mindful if this could impact you.

Buy a copy of 'All Fours' and find out more about Miranda and her work here:

https://mirandajuly.com/all-fours/

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.

On 22nd October 2023, Ahmed Alnaouq woke up to the unthinkable news that 21 members of his family had been killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.

Ahmed Alnaouq is a Palestinian journalist from Gaza and the co-founder of We Are Not Numbers - a non profit organisation that specialises in sharing Palestinian stories.

In this episode, Ahmed shares his story. He explains how the war in Palestine didn’t begin last year, but has been ongoing throughout his entire life. Ahmed talks about family members who have been killed, how this horrific experience has changed him and his outlook, the importance of sharing stories to incite change, what the end of this war could look like and what he thinks people in the West can do.

Changes is fundamentally about the power of sharing stories. It is through stories that we find hope, connection and spread empathy and that is what we hope today’s episode will do.

Warning: This episode contains explicit and upsetting content about the war in Gaza that some listeners may find distressing.

Find out more about We Are Not Numbers and read the stories here:

https://wearenotnumbers.org/about/

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.

Sara Pascoe has a magic ability to take life’s absurdities and turn them into comedy gold, but how does she approach change?

Sara’s quick, intelligent wit has seen her competing on many of the UK’s most popular comedy panel shows such as QI and Taskmaster and she also hosts ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’. Not only is she one of the country’s foremost comedians, Sara is a bestselling author too, having written three books - ‘Animal’, ‘Sex Money Power’ and her debut novel ‘Weirdo’, which is out on paperback now. She’s also a book fan and co-hosts the podcast ‘Sara and Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club’ with her friend, and previous guest on Changes, Cariad Lloyd.

In this refreshing and light hearted conversation, Sara opens about her untraditional upbringing, her transition to vegetarianism at a young age and her changing relationship with her parents after her Dad left when she was seven. Reflecting on her latest novel, "Weirdo,", Sara also discusses her evolving relationship with her own confidence, detachment from show business as a new mum and her self-worth as a comedian.

Buy 'Weirdo' here:

https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/weirdo-unlike-many-debut-novels-this-one-will-stick-with-you-for-a-long-time-guardian-main/sara-pascoe/paperback/9780571374540.html

Listen to Cariad Lloyd's Changes episode here:

https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/59c1bc1991700462b988d47248a3ce8831095b5b/view

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.