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/B00J8PGGI8Beeban'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.

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.

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/9780571332090https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nine-Lives-Goldie/dp/0340824786Should 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.htmlChanges 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 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/1526621835Listen to Griefcast: https://play.acast.com/s/griefcastShould 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.htmlChanges 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.

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.

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/changesShould 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.

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/changesShould 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.

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.htmlSophie mentions Lemn Sissay who’s Changes episode can be found here: https://podfollow.com/changeswithanniemacmanus/episode/d006cf556767a3eb86b4249eb1704a789cb3d618/viewChanges 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.

‘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.htmlChanges 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.

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/changesIf 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/viewShould 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.