"Hospitality saved my life."

Matty White has spent more than two decades building a career across radio, television, live events, food, drink and broadcasting, becoming one of the most familiar faces in Manchester along the way.

But the journey to becoming a presenter, broadcaster, DJ and now host of TEDxNorthernQuarter started somewhere very different.

In this episode of TEDx and Talks, Matty joins hosts Andy Coley and Simran Whitham ahead of taking on hosting duties at TEDxNorthernQuarter 2026 in Manchester.

The conversation starts, naturally, with Manchester. Matty shares what he loves about the city, why he believes its friendliness, togetherness and willingness to support people makes it special, and how Manchester helped him build a life when he arrived with very little.

He also talks about authenticity and why, whether he is on the radio, television, social media or standing on a stage, he has always tried to simply be himself. For Matty, audiences can tell when someone is playing a character, and genuine connection comes from allowing people to see the real person underneath.

The conversation explores why some of the most interesting stories do not come from celebrities at all, but from the ordinary people we pass every day. Matty reflects on his years interviewing people across Manchester and why "everyone's got a story" has become such an important part of how he looks at people.

Matty then speaks candidly about experiencing homelessness when he was younger and why supporting efforts to tackle homelessness in Greater Manchester has become deeply personal to him.

He shares how a charity eventually helped him find somewhere to live, how getting a job in hospitality gave him a second chance, and the moment he realised he could begin building something more. From there came college, university, a move to Manchester and eventually an opportunity answering phones at the BBC that opened the door to a broadcasting career.

Matty also looks back further, to childhood memories of radio and exchanging cassette tapes with his grandfather, revealing some of the early experiences that sparked his love of presenting and storytelling.

The conversation turns to ambition, purpose and why Matty still wants more from life despite everything he has already achieved. He talks about learning the craft of live presenting, what being completely present on stage feels like, and offers some characteristically straightforward advice to the TEDxNorthernQuarter speakers.

Finally, Matty reflects on failure, resilience and legacy. Having failed far more times than he believes he has succeeded, his message is simple: if you are not prepared to fail, you cannot win.

And when asked what legacy he ultimately wants to leave, his answer has little to do with television, radio, Manchester or his career.

He simply wants his children to remember having a good dad.

TEDx and Talks is the official podcast of TEDxNorthernQuarter, taking you beyond the red dot to discover more about the people, stories and ideas behind the talks.

Hosted by Andy Coley and Simran Whitham.

Recorded by THE CLUB MCR in Manchester.

TEDxNorthernQuarter returns to Stoller Hall, Manchester on 11 September 2026, bringing together 16 speakers to share ideas worth spreading.

Find out more about TEDxNorthernQuarter:

Website: https://www.tedxnorthernquarter.com/
Podcast: https://podcast.tedxnorthernquarter.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tedxnorthernquarter/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tedxnorthernquarter/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tedxnorthernquarter

Connect with Matty White:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattyfwhite/

Content note: This episode contains strong language and candid discussion of homelessness and difficult personal experiences.

TEDxNorthernQuarter is an independently organised event under license granted by TED.