Introduction to Changes with Annie Macmanus

Have You Heard? is a series in which the team from Pod Bible meet the people behind the podcasts you may not have heard of yet. While the Oh. My. Pod. section in the magazine gives a quick shout out to shows of that ilk, Have You Heard aims to go deeper in an effort to spread awareness for shows that deserve more exposure! In this week’s edition we sat down with Annie Macmanus to discuss Changes.

Who are you and what’s your podcast about?
I am Annie Macmanus and my podcast is all about change.

What’s the first podcast you ever listened to?
It must have been Desert Island Discs.

Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place?
Initially I was captivated by the idea of total freedom! No rules! Then it was to learn more about myself and my place in the world.

Which podcasts do you take inspiration from?
Music podcasts I love Popcast, Broken Record, Desert Island Discs, Tiga’s Last Party On Earth, I’ve been loving the intricate research and high level production on Nice White Parents – so interesting. I dip in and out of lots of podcasts depending on the guest. So I listen to How To Fail. Sinead Burkes As Me, Fear Cotton’s Happy place, Table Manners.

Who’s your dream guest for the podcast?
My favourite guests are the non-famous people, that you wouldn’t normally hear on a podcast. Ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as a podcaster?
I’ve learnt that it’s all about the format. And that format has to be simple and clear but versatile. It has to have a strong identity. Because there is a looooooot of podcasts out there.

Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast?
I think maybe the most recent episode which focuses on an ex neo- Nazi called Nigel Bromage who was radicalised into extremism as a teenager. He spent 20 years as a neo- Nazi and managed to come out of it in his mid-thirties. It’s an episode that focusses ideological change and it feels like it would be a useful conversation to listen to. Genuinely helpful for a lot of people in terms of learning how to process how someone can feel such extreme hate.

Where can the Pod Bible readers find out more about you?
It terms of me personally, my Instagram is the best place. Otherwise there’s my Twitter, Facebook and the podcast itself!