Changes with Annie Macmanus

Beth Ditto went from growing up in the conservative south of the USA to being the punk front woman of Gossip and posing nude on the cover of NME. She is a queer icon and a feminist who promoted body positivity long before it was cool.  With her usual hilarity and frankness, Beth Ditto speaks to Annie about her unconventional childhood in a huge family and living with her Aunt in her teens, a...

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...

In this wonderfully compelling conversation, The Booker Prize winning author opens up to Annie about her childhood, going to the Youth Theatre, losing herself in a toxic relationship with another woman and her hopes for the future of society.  As the first black woman to win the Booker Prize, Bernardine Evaristo is, rightly so, unashamedly basking in the huge success of her ninth novel ‘Girl,...

Have you ever wondered what actually happens when you win the lottery? How you deal with the reality of this overwhelming amount of money? Susan Herdman won the lottery in 2010, on a 14 million to one chance. In this episode she tells us about her life before and after the win, the strange heightened night when she knew that she had won but it was unconfirmed by the lottery, and where she went and...

As a child within the space of six months, Romesh Ranganathan’s house was repossessed, he changed schools, his mum found out his dad was having an affair and his dad went to prison! Later in life, Romesh changed careers from being a maths teacher to a comedian, something he almost gave up following his Dad’s death. Since then Romesh has become a BAFTA winner and one of the most successful comedian...

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...

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 Re...

Patrick Burke has seen a lot of change. In this roller coaster of an interview with Annie, we hear the moments that led Paddy into a life on the streets... and the moment that brought him back from the brink. Warning: this episode discusses substance abuse and violence Paddy supports the work of Shelter. We should too. Support their work at this most difficult of times . Hosted on Acast. See acast...

The bestselling author joins Annie to talk through the biggest changes in his life - from the bullying that defined his childhood, to his escape to London and how that shaped his world.  Jon Ronson has had an uncanny knack of predicting some big cultural shifts, from the online mob to the way the porn industry has changed all our lives. Annie delves into his past to discover how he does it. F...

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. A...

The Mayor of Bristol has been in the national conversation this week, as Black Lives Matter protests addressed the issue of statues honouring slavers in our major cities. In this extended conversation with Annie, he discusses the changes that brought him into politics, his love of multicultural Bristol, and why his words have been some warmly received by everyone that wants equality now. Foll...

Clover Stroud has made her colourful family life in the country the subject of her two best selling books. She has five children and is fearlessness in her writing about the darker sides of motherhood. For more than one reason, Clover has had to navigate an abundance of traumatic change in her life and is truly inspirational in the way she talks about over coming them.  Content warn...

Waad has documented her life on camera in war torn Aleppo, Syria. While conflict, violence, death and cruelty raged around her, she fell in love, got married and had a baby daughter. Her film, ‘For Sama’, is a love letter from a young mother to her daughter - and in this conversation with Annie, she reveals the moments of change in her eventful life, capturing stories of loss, laughter, sacrifice...

When Candice became a mother, she found that, flicking through Instagram, she didn't see many people that looked like her. So where were all the black mothers? This revelation set Candice on a course that has seen her lighting a path for others, as well as making a few enemies along the way. In this interview with Annie, the founder of Make Motherhood Diverse discusses her stories of change. Follo...

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 o...

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 exceptiona...

This episode has been bleeped and can be heard with the kids around. Please note it contains references to self-harm. 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...

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...

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

The TV presenter and former X Factor star joins Annie in her Rave Shed to talk about humour, childhood and craving fame. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Dad Wrote A Porno made Alice Levine an international star, making people laugh week after week. But does she think of herself as funny - or as a comedian? Annie brings Alice into the Rave Shed to discuss the rollercoaster of being labelled 'a funny woman.' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does food affect your wellbeing? GP Dr Rupy founded The Doctors' Kitchen , a place to improve your health through food. In this chat with Annie, they discuss how we need to fix our love of animals, so they don't end up on our plate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The outspoken MP has only been in parliament since 2015, but has made a big impact in that short time as a campaigner for social justice... and a reminder that not all politicians belong to 'the ruling class.' This episode is part of 'Finding Annie', a special series of podcasts discussing life's biggest themes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's no textbook for growing older, but Suzanne Moore's columns for the Guardian have been a comfort to Annie, revealing a world where the process of aging is a blessing not a curse. This episode is part of 'Finding Annie,' a special series of podcasts looking at the big themes of life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Annie was the 'new girl' at Radio 1, still learning the ropes, Zane Lowe would be the one to look up to. When he wasn't asleep in the studio with a newspaper over his head. In this catch-up with Zane, they talk about those early days, the power of live radio, and the beautiful chaos that he orchestrated for the nation. This episode is part of 'Finding Annie.' a series of special podcasts rec...