Irvine Welsh on toxic masculinity, addiction and softening with age

DJ Fat Tony is one of the most iconic figures of London’s nightlife scene. Tony’s extraordinary four-decade career at the heart of music and clubbing has seen him spinning tracks for everyone from Madonna to Prince, but his rise to stardom was paired with a drug addiction that almost killed him. Tony’s 2022 Sunday Times bestselling memoir ‘I Don’t Take Requests’, is a shocking, honest yet also at times hilarious account of his life. It’s filled with wild stories about his past and heartbreaking reflections on his journey through addiction, recovery, and transformation. In this live episode of Changes, recorded at Before Midnight in Gunnersbury Park, Annie and Tony dive deep into Tony’s life from his upbringing in Battersea, to his teenage years spent on the legendary Kings Road, to the dark depths of addiction and his return to clubbing as a sober DJ. They talk about Tony’s love for music, how UK nightlife has evolved over the years and offer a raw insight into the highs and lows of DJ culture.  Content warning: this episode discusses addiction and abuse and has very strong language from the start. 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.

Sometimes to move forward, you have to look back and in today’s episode Annie is joined by her dear friend Clara Amfo who opens up for the first time publicly about the life-altering event in her childhood that changed her forever. Broadcaster, pop culture aficionado and British ‘it girl’ Clara Amfo is an unstoppable force when it comes to British tv and radio. She has hosted many of the UK's biggest music and cultural moments, from Glastonbury to the BRIT Awards. But for Clara, living authentically is at the heart of everything she does and earlier this year, after a decade of success on BBC Radio, including on 1xtra and presenting the Live Lounge and Future Sounds on Radio 1, Clara felt it was time to explore different parts of her professional and personal journey, marking a time of significant change and reflection. In this radically honest episode, Clara opens up to Annie about something she has never discussed publicly before. She reveals how unpacking her past has helped her to judge herself less, de-root feelings of shame and fight for deeper self love and acceptance. Clara shares the realities of being a black woman in the spotlight. They also discuss the search for contentment in a world that often demands more. This deeply personal conversation between friends is a lesson in understanding your own power and showing up as your true self despite all the odds. Warning: this episode discusses acts of racism and child sexual abuse. If you need additional support after listening to this episode you can use the links below to find more information on some places to go: Call the Samaritans on 116 123 https://www.samaritans.org/ https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/ https://247sexualabusesupport.org.uk/ https://www.survivorsuk.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.

Bestselling author of ‘The Outrun,’ Amy Liptrot is proof that change is not only possible but life-saving. When Amy found herself in rehab for alcoholism aged 30, she left London behind and returned to her family’s farm on Orkney, a remote Island off the coast of Scotland. Overcoming addiction on an isolated island, Amy found solace in the wild landscapes that she’d grown up in. Her outstanding memoir ‘The Outrun’ is an account of these experiences and in 2016 the book was awarded the Wainwright Prize and the PEN/Ackerley prize. The film adaptation of The Outrun starring Saoirse Ronan is in cinemas later this week, it is incredibly beautiful and an absolute must see. In this profound and illuminating conversation, Amy and Annie talk about The Outrun, Amy’s involvement in the film version and what it’s like to see your life played out on screen. They talk about Amy’s childhood on Orkney and the effect that her mother’s strict religion and father’s mental health had on her upbringing. They also talk about the path of addiction, getting sober, different kinds of loneliness, the healing power of nature and the definition of home. This was a truly intimate and deep conversation looking at life's biggest questions. The Outrun is in Cinemas this Friday. 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.

AJ Tracey is one of the most influential artists in the UK music scene today but his life could have taken a very different direction had he not made some serious changes. AJ is known for his groundbreaking contributions to grime, drill and UK garage. Last year he celebrated 1 billion streams in the UK and was honoured with the Brits Billion Award. His triple platinum-selling hit Ladbroke Grove is an homage to his West London neighbourhood where he was raised by his single mum. For AJ, the reality of growing up as a black, working class boy in London meant being surrounded by gangs, violence, and a culture of fear. These early experiences led him to carry weapons and sell drugs, but through all this, music became AJ’s lifeline, offering him a way out and ultimately led to his rise as an independent artist.  In this frank and eye opening episode AJ and Annie dive deep into his journey from early days on council estates to headlining stages as a multi-platinum artist. They talk about the pressures of becoming the man of the house at a young age, protecting his family, and navigating the harsh realities of The London postcode clash. They also discuss the issues facing young people today, how his rise to fame and making money have changed him and how he manages to stay grounded while breaking boundaries in the music industry.  Warning: This episode discusses knife crime and violence 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.

Model turned comedian Michelle de Swarte’s life story has more twists and turns than most novels. A born and bred South Londoner, Michelle was scouted aged 19 and moved to New York to begin her modelling career working for the likes of Dolce and Gabbana and Versace. After two decades on the runway Michelle started doing stand up comedy and eventually moved back to London. Now making it as a successful writer and actor, Michelle is constantly evolving and redefining what it means to live life on your own terms. Her critically acclaimed BBC sitcom ‘Spent’, came out in July. Both written by and starring Michelle, it’s a hilarious, loosely autobiographical story of a bankrupt, ex model navigating the realities of her new life. In this funny yet reflective episode, Michelle brings her deadpan humour to dive into the extreme amount of change that she has gone through, discussing her upbringing being raised by her single mother, her queer grandmother, her time as a model and what working in the industry was actually like. Annie and Michelle also talk about Michelle’s transition into comedy, money, the currency of beauty and how modelling young taught her the dangers of everyone curating their life on social media today. Watch Spent now on BBC Iplayer. 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.