George Mpanga, aka George the Poet, is a voice for change but, is it enough to just be a successful Black man in the war on Blackness? From his humble beginnings in North London with Ugandan parents, to graduating from Cambridge University as well as visiting Uganda, George knows a thing or two about the big changes that can shape your life’s direction.

George is best known for his work as a spoken word artist, rapper and podcaster with the multi award-winning podcast ‘Have You Heard George’s Podcast?’. He is also a PHD researcher, recently became a father and is now an author with his recent memoir "Track Record: Me, Music, and the War on Blackness." It is essential reading.

In this deeply personal and engrossing conversation, Annie and George unpack the complexities of his identity as a Black entertainer, his shift from Black liberal to Black radical and why, for him, radical thinking is essential to bring about systemic change, the power of honesty, their shared experience of imperialism (Annie of course from an Irish perspective), falling in love, and Black music and the restrictions he felt on his own creativity in the industry. From challenging the status quo of capitalism to advocating for equality and justice, George leaves us with a message of hope and empowerment, oh, and his favourite Nas lyric.

Find out more about George here: https://www.georgethepoet.com/

Order George's book 'Track Record: Me, Music, and the War on Blackness' here: https://lnk.to/TrackRecord

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.

Rounding off this miniseries on Bodies, the incredible journalist, broadcaster and bestselling author Afua Hirsch unpacks Eurocentric beauty standards and discusses unlearning some of the myths around women’s bodies. Why do western cultures think body hair is bad? How do non western cultures treat puberty and aging? Can we change how we view our bodies from our ancestors? Certainly, what we think we know about women's bodies is very narrow.

Afua Hirsch is at the forefront of discussions about race, history, and culture in Britain today. Her book ‘Brit(ish)’ was an award winning Sunday Times bestseller and delves into the uncomfortable truth about race and identity in Britain today. Her latest book is called ‘Decolonising My Body: A Radical Exploration Of Rituals And Beauty’. It was a 2023 political book of the year for Waterstones, described as 'ground-breaking' by Bernardine Evaristo and makes her perfect for discussing Bodies and change.

Originally training as a human rights barrister, since being a journalist, Afua has presented documentaries for the BBC, been a regular contributor to Sky News debate show The Pledge and current affairs programmes including Channel 4 News, Newsnight, Question Time, and CNN. She has also written for multiple prestigious publications including British Vogue where she interviewed Rihanna!

In this incredibly enlightening episode, as well as covering different cultural views on bodies, Afua and Annie discuss Afua’s view of her body as a young black girl and how that has changed, a life altering moment with Oprah and why she personally wanted to unlearn and then relearn everything when it came to understanding her body.

Find out more about Afua Hirsch and order her book ‘Decolonising My Body’ here:

www.afuahirsch.com

www.amazon.co.uk/Decolonising-My-Body-radical-exploration/dp/1529908663

Other books and people mentioned in this episode:

Maisie Hill - Period Power

www.maisiehill.com

Laurence Moniasse

www.moniasse.com/about-me

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.

As part of our Bodies Mini Series, renowned gynaecologist Dr. Jen Gunter tackles your burning questions about your bodies as she and Annie delve deep into the complex world of women's health and the changes involved. Dr. Jen Gunter is the author of bestsellers "The Vagina Bible" and "The Menopause Manifesto," and is the ultimate authority on all things bodies. Her new book “Blood” mixes her trademark blend of expertise and accessibility, empowering readers to understand their bodies better than ever before.

Listen to this special Q&A style episode for a wealth of information on orgasms, libido, period symptoms, hormones, menopause, incontinence and plenty more. It will leave you feeling more informed, empowered, and ready to navigate changes in your body.

Find out more about Dr. Jen Gunter, order her books and read her blog here:

https://drjengunter.com/

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Emily Ngowski - Come As You Are https://www.amazon.co.uk/Come-You-Are-surprising-transform/dp/1925228010

Dr. Lori Brotto - Better Sex Through Mindfulness

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Better-Sex-Through-Mindfulness-Cultivate/dp/1771642351

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.