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Former Liverpool and England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland joins Dan for an honest conversation about the person behind the football career. Chris reflects on his childhood in Leicester, his journey from Coventry City to his boyhood club Liverpool, the pressures of professional football and his memories of playing alongside some of the game’s greatest names.

He also speaks candidly about anxiety, depression and prescription-painkiller addiction, including the moment he realised he had to tell the truth and seek support. Now using his experiences to help others, Chris explains why recovery begins with speaking up, the importance of purpose and structure, and why however desperate life may feel it is always possible to fight back.

Content warning: This episode discusses addiction, depression and suicide.

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Danifesto. If this episode meant something to you, follow the podcast and share it with someone who needs that little push to back themselves. You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook for behind the scenes clips and updates. If you want early episodes and bonus content, you can join The Danifesto Plus through my Buzzsprout page. Your support helps me keep growing this and bringing bigger conversations to the mic.

Send Me A Text Message

Jamie Webster joins me on The Danifesto Podcast for a proper honest conversation about how life has changed from playing pubs in Liverpool and working as an electrician to selling out huge shows and becoming one of the biggest voices to come out of the city.

We talk about what really goes through his head before walking onto a massive stage, the nerves and adrenaline behind performing, the emotional side of releasing music, how the industry has changed with social media, and why there’s no magic algorithm for making a song connect.

Jamie also opens up about the more personal side of his new album, Running Round the Sun, and why he wanted this record to explore feelings and experiences he hasn’t written about as openly before.

One of the most meaningful moments for me was getting the chance to tell Jamie how much his music helped me after losing my grandad and during one of the hardest periods of my life. His response about grief, sadness and sometimes just needing somebody to tell you that things are going to be alright is something I won’t forget.

We also talk about North End Kid, the new song Wherever You Are, and whether anything on the new album can finally knock North End Kid off the top spot for me.

A short episode, but definitely one of the most personal and special conversations I’ve recorded.

Thank you to Jamie for taking the time to come on.

Running Round the Sun is out 4 September.

🎙️ The Danifesto Podcast

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Danifesto. If this episode meant something to you, follow the podcast and share it with someone who needs that little push to back themselves. You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook for behind the scenes clips and updates. If you want early episodes and bonus content, you can join The Danifesto Plus through my Buzzsprout page. Your support helps me keep growing this and bringing bigger conversations to the mic.

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In this episode of The Danifesto Podcast, I’m joined by Peter Oliver OBE, the Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside, and Sue Higginson OBE DL, Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside.

We go behind the scenes of one of the oldest public roles in the country to explore what the Lord-Lieutenant actually does on a day-to-day basis, how Peter and Sue were appointed, and what it means to represent His Majesty The King across Merseyside.

We discuss the history of the Lieutenancy, royal visits, the King’s Honours system, OBEs, MBEs and BEMs, recognising ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and why volunteering is so important to local communities.

The conversation also explores Liverpool’s unique identity, what makes the people of Merseyside so special, the city’s sense of community, music, football, and why service to others sits at the heart of everything they do.

As always on The Danifesto Podcast, we also have an open conversation about neurodiversity, autism, ADHD, mental health, education and supporting young people. Peter and Sue share their thoughts on making schools and communities more inclusive, why understanding matters, and how organisations can better support neurodivergent people.

Finally, we talk about leadership, resilience, balancing voluntary roles with everyday life, the importance of recognising people for the difference they make, and why leaving the world a little better than you found it is something we should all strive for.

If you enjoy honest conversations about community, leadership, mental health, neurodiversity and the people making a real difference, this episode is for you.

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Danifesto. If this episode meant something to you, follow the podcast and share it with someone who needs that little push to back themselves. You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook for behind the scenes clips and updates. If you want early episodes and bonus content, you can join The Danifesto Plus through my Buzzsprout page. Your support helps me keep growing this and bringing bigger conversations to the mic.

Send Me A Text Message

How does a deaf musician actually work?

Most people think they know the answer… but they’re wrong.

In this episode, I sit down with Sean Chandler a musician, teacher, and presenter to talk about what life is really like, from school to communication to how he actually experiences music.

How do you play music, teach, and present… when you’re deaf?

We get into what people constantly misunderstand, the pressure to adapt, and what “inclusion” really looks like in real life.

This isn’t a polished interview it’s a real conversation.

And it might change how you see things.

Sean Chandler Instagram: @mrseanchandler

Also, Flare Audio sent me a pair of their headphones no payment, no script. I’ve been using them while editing and they’ve actually helped cut out a lot of background noise and keep me focused.

I’ll drop the link here:
https://www.flareaudio.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqY-mvo_e8Aj3NdsMjAgNB9iEs9q09Jxyr6f_L97yKUWObvKSgb

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Danifesto. If this episode meant something to you, follow the podcast and share it with someone who needs that little push to back themselves. You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook for behind the scenes clips and updates. If you want early episodes and bonus content, you can join The Danifesto Plus through my Buzzsprout page. Your support helps me keep growing this and bringing bigger conversations to the mic.

Send Me A Text Message

This is my full interview from Channel 5, where I sat down to talk about what ADHD and autism actually feel like - not the stereotype, the real experience.

I was diagnosed with autism at 4 and ADHD at 9, and nearly got excluded from school in my first week. Not because I was "bad", but because I couldn't sit still, I wanted to move, explore, and learn in a different way.

We get into what it's like growing up misunderstood, how school can get it wrong, and what's actually going on inside your head when you have ADHD.

This is the reason I started The Danifesto - because there are still people out there going through this with no support, no understanding, and no one explaining it properly.

If you've ever felt like you don't fit the system, this episode will make sense.

Big thanks to I'm ADHD, No You're Not, Channel 5 and Dan Walker for making this happen.

And Dr Mine Conkbayir MBE who made the whole thing happen!

(Interview originally aired on Channel 5)

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Danifesto. If this episode meant something to you, follow the podcast and share it with someone who needs that little push to back themselves. You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook for behind the scenes clips and updates. If you want early episodes and bonus content, you can join The Danifesto Plus through my Buzzsprout page. Your support helps me keep growing this and bringing bigger conversations to the mic.

Send Me A Text Message

In this episode of The Danifesto, I sit down with Daniel for a real conversation about where piano started for him, how his mind works, the pressure that comes with growth, and the way music has shaped his life.

We also get into the story of how Simon Squibb came into the picture, what that connection meant, and how moments like that can shift the way you see yourself and what’s possible.

It’s honest, personal, and reflective — and to close the episode, Daniel finishes by playing piano live, which makes the ending something special.

A proper conversation about music, focus, identity, and momentum.

Topics in this episode:
•Daniel’s early journey with piano
•Pressure, growth, and mindset
•ADHD, focus, and creativity
•Meeting Simon Squibb
•What he’s building now
•Live piano at the end

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Danifesto. If this episode meant something to you, follow the podcast and share it with someone who needs that little push to back themselves. You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook for behind the scenes clips and updates. If you want early episodes and bonus content, you can join The Danifesto Plus through my Buzzsprout page. Your support helps me keep growing this and bringing bigger conversations to the mic.

Send Me A Text Message

Last night I stayed up until 3:30am watching the Super Bowl and only got 4 hours of sleep… so I expected my ADHD to be worse than ever.

But the opposite happened.

My brain felt quieter. I could remember things. I stayed on track in lessons. I even remembered what question I was on when I turned the page — which NEVER happens.

For a few hours, it honestly felt like my ADHD had disappeared.

In this episode, I talk about what that “calm brain” feeling was actually like, why being overtired can sometimes feel like better focus, and why it’s a total trap if you try to chase it.

If you’ve ever had a random “good brain day” and thought

“Why can’t I be like this all the time?”

this episode is for you.

Real talk about ADHD, tired focus, brain noise, and learning to work with your brain instead of fighting it.

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Danifesto. If this episode meant something to you, follow the podcast and share it with someone who needs that little push to back themselves. You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook for behind the scenes clips and updates. If you want early episodes and bonus content, you can join The Danifesto Plus through my Buzzsprout page. Your support helps me keep growing this and bringing bigger conversations to the mic.

Send Me A Text Message

This one is just me.

I talk about pitching on stage at a HelpBnk networking event in Liverpool, putting my name in the bucket, pushing through nerves, and somehow walking away with Best Pitch and £500 of support for The Danifesto. But this episode is not really about the money. It is about what happens when you start saying yes to scary opportunities and backing yourself even when your brain tells you not to.

I also share what I am working on with Changing Chances, the Doorbell of Dreams experience, the nerves no one sees, and the mindset shift that has made me realise opportunities do not just happen. You create them by showing up.

Link to Changing Chances: https://changingchanceslearningplatform.thinkific.com/

This is a chilled, real, sit with me type of episode. If you have ever doubted yourself, overthought things, or nearly talked yourself out of something big, this one is for you.

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Danifesto. If this episode meant something to you, follow the podcast and share it with someone who needs that little push to back themselves. You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook for behind the scenes clips and updates. If you want early episodes and bonus content, you can join The Danifesto Plus through my Buzzsprout page. Your support helps me keep growing this and bringing bigger conversations to the mic.