Forever Mancunians

Sophie Sveinsson sits down with broadcaster, presenter, food reviewer and critic Matty White to talk about finding a true sense of home and friendships.  After moving to Manchester in his twenties, Matt discovered a city and its people that finally gave him the belonging he'd been searching for since leaving his childhood hometown.  Matty invites us in. Sophie cries. They giggle.

 

School never felt like the right fit for Liam Heeley. It wasn't until he found his tribe of creatives that everything clicked.

Now, at just 24, Liam has travelled the world as a photographer, founded HEADS Manchester, and helped launch the Manchester Creative Council.

In this episode, Sophie Sveinsson sits down with Liam to talk about the power of community, backing yourself, and how finding the right people can completely change the course of your life.

Simon Wood joins Sophie Sveinsson for a powerful conversation about passion, pressure and starting over.

From growing up cooking with his grandad to feeling trapped in an IT career, Simon always knew food was where he belonged — but winning MasterChef changed everything overnight. Thrust into the spotlight, he built his dream restaurant and a team that became family… until it all came crashing down.

In this episode, Simon opens up about the highs of sudden success, the heartbreak that followed, and the fight to rebuild when everything you’ve worked for is suddenly gone.

In this episode of Forever Mancunians, Sophie Sveinsson chats to Katie Lloyd, bassist of The Lottery Winners. Raised by musician parents, music was always her norm—but her experience of being bullied growing up as a “mosher” helped shape her resilience.

She shares how she found her place through performing, built a band that feels like family, and helped create a loyal fan community—from home to online—through the band’s playful, innovative content

From Essex to Manchester, Olympic BMX and World Champion Beth Shriever joins Sophie Sveinsson to share her journey: leaving home to live in Manchester and train with British Cycling, navigating life as the only woman on the team, and discovering the female riders who make her feel at home.

In this punchy episode, DJ Paulette (Paulette Constable) speaks with Sophie Sveinsson about facing racism in the church, finding freedom and acceptance on the dancefloor, and how queer club culture led her back to music — while opening up about being made to stop clubbing during her marriage, and why she’s still judged today as a woman behind the decks.

In this episode, Sophie speaks with musician and composer Aziz Ibrahim (The Stone Roses and Simply Red)  about growing up in Longsight, discovering the rich, multicultural life of South Manchester, and the sounds that brought people together across faiths and backgrounds. Aziz reflects on choosing music in the face of community expectation, and the judgement that can come with stepping beyond prescribed paths.

A conversation about community, identity, and the rhythms that bind us.

In this episode, artist and DJ Stan Chow sits down with host Sophie Sveinsson to talk about how he found his tribe in the hallways of art school and carried that creative spark into Manchester’s underground. Stan shares how a need to make something—to carve out a space where art, music, and identity could collide—led to the creation of a genuine community in the club. From late-night experiments to shaping a scene, he reflects with Sophie on the people, places, and impulses that helped him find belonging.

In this episode we meet Rachel McFarlane, the founder of Ampliied Voices CIC.
Beyond her own record of remarkable personal achievements, Rachel's dedication to community outreach is evident in her work with this pioneering initiative allowing her to showcase her commitment to leveraging the power of music to empower and foster a sense of belonging through singing programmes specifically designed to uplift, inspire, and support individuals from all walks of life!
Amplified Voices works on the basis that music is more than simply entertainment, but also a powerful tool for healing, empowerment, and social change!

The Forever Mancunians Podcast shares the stories of featured guests whose vision, commitment and determination in making a difference to the lives of others in our local communites is often interesting and inspiring.

In this episode we chat with Esther Whittaker, CEO of Down's Syndrome Manchester. DS Manchester is an inclusive, member-led charity for individuals with Down’s syndrome, their parents, caregivers and professionals that provides support from childhood through to adulthood.

Esther shares her passion for charity life and the development experiences that led her to fronting one of Manchester's most passionate little charities. Boasting a membership of over 300 and counting, DS M/cr provides access to life-long friendships, connection to other families, professional advice, support and lot's of fun!