Dreamer's Disease

On this episode I am joined by Paula Akpan, co-founder of the I’m Tired Project and also the UK’s first Black Girl Festival.  We discuss her career path and journey from university, the exact moment she realised that she’d made her mum proud, the importance and influence of Black Panther, her biggest inspirations, why she’s following her passions rather than a specific career path and more. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment! Thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Paula: IG: @paulaakpan Twitter: @paulaakpan Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease Some topics we discuss: the idea and creation of Black Girl Festival the inspiration behind the I'm Tired project the exact moment she realised that she had made her mum proud dealing with negative comments online what feminism means to her the importance of not changing yourself to try and avoid stereotypes not letting your

"If you're waiting for someone to come and help you or save you, you're just wasting time" After some incredible In Focus sessions over the past weeks, I'm back with a solo round and discussing why you shouldn't let you past struggles and experiences hold you back. I know I've certainly done it myself, but now is the time to take ownership and control of your life. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment. And be sure to share it with a friend who needs to hear this! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease

On this episode I am joined by poet Hussain Manawer to hear about the amazing work he does in spreading awareness of mental health issues. Hussain has dedicated his artistry to sharing stories and experiences with Mental Health. Having recently lost his mother, he has an EP on the way dedicated to the learnings she passed onto him. He also holds the Guiness World Record for the largest Mental Health lesson, when he got over 500 students in a room to educate them on depression, suicide and more. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment! Thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Hussain: IG: @hussains_house Twitter: @HussainsHouse Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease Some topics we discuss: why mental health is so important to him his passion for music becoming a poet dealing with his mother's death setting up the largest ever mental health lesson keeping a group of close fri

"Stop using 'how do I start' as an excuse for putting in the work" On this very special In Focus session I am joined by none other than Gary Vaynerchuk. I was very grateful to get the opportunity and some time to record with such a huge inspiration on me.  And it's even more exciting to be able to provide you guys with some of his incredible no-nonsense advice. On this session I pick his brains on the best methods to start implementing your ideas and goals, what his struggles are and what platform he would recommend you to start building your own brand on. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment. And be sure to share it with a friend who needs to hear this! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease Follow Gary: IG/Twitter: @GaryVee

On this episode I am joined by Vicky Grout - the UK music photographer of the moment - to hear about her journey so far. For someone who is just 21, Vicky has already achieved a lot in a short period of time so we take it right back to hear how she first got into photography, why you are better off not being a perfectionist, being a woman in a male-dominated industry, wanting to help educate the youth, dealing with online trolls, advice for budding photographers and more! If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment! Thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Vicky: IG: @VickyGrout Twitter: @VickyGrout Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease Some topics we discuss: When she first picked up a camera Preferring film over digital photography How social media has helped build her career Being a woman in a male dominated industry Her fear of the state of our society today Why she be

"I think it's really important to set goals and write them down" Ciara returns for the 4th and final part of her In Focus takeover and we're discussing all aspects of building your own business and the steps she took to set up her fitness classes and brand. Plus she has some tips for anyone who is looking to start their own company. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment. And be sure to share it with a friend who needs to hear this! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Ciara: IG: @CiaraLondon Twitter: @ciaralondonfit Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease Some topics we discuss: Why timing was important when deciding to leave her City job Finding others to help out where needed Goals to building up her own team Working hard and opportunities presenting themselves Her tips for anyone who wants to start their own business

Andy Leek is the man behind @notestostrangers page on Instagram - an incredible idea where he leaves positive & inspirational notes around the UK for people to discover and post on their own Instagram accounts. With a history in Advertising and experiencing some mental health issues, Andy talks us through his journey and his biggest learnings and why he's so passionate about sharing love and inspiration in the world. There's also an amazing story involving a ebay, a blank canvas, a flight to Vegas, Llamas and painting a dog, but you'll have to listen to the full episode to find out the details. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Notes to Strangers: IG: @notestostrangers Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease Some topics we discuss: Experience working in the Advertising industry Dealing with mental health issues Working on

"It's important for women to support other women" Ciara returns for part 3 of her In Focus co-host and this week we discuss all things female empowerment and why 2018 is due to be the year of the woman! If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment. And be sure to share it with a friend who needs to hear this! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Ciara: IG: @CiaraLondon Twitter: @ciaralondonfit Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease Some topics we discuss: The sexualisation of women Hope we break the 'lad' mentality Seeing women as equals How women can lift up other women The #metoo movement Oprah's incredible speech What women in power can do to empower other women Choosing to work with only women

A very open conversation with Natasha Benjamin, founder of Free Your Mind - an organisation to help support children who have experienced domestic violence. She's also a self care coach, mental health expert and has written and released two books, so she's a pretty busy lady! Natasha speaks about her experiences dealing with Anxiety, discovering she had experienced domestic violence as a child and even gets me to open up about my own experiences with anxiety - something I've not touched on on the podcast before. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Natasha: IG: @natashakbenjamin Twitter: @tashakbenjamin Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease Some topics we discuss: The blog that started everything off for Natasha Realising she'd experienced domestic violence as a child Discovering her own mental health issues How she deals wit

"If you're relationships are as tight as they are meant to be, if you win, they win" Ciara is back for part 2 of her In Focus co-host and this week we have a very juicy chat about relationships & love and why you should pick your relationships wisely - both friendships and lovers. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment. And be sure to share it with a friend who needs to hear this! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Ciara: IG: @CiaraLondon Twitter: @ciaralondonfit Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease

A real in-depth chat with Kojo Anim aka Kojo The Comedian - someone who has helped break down so many doors and put on so many comedians throughout his career. He shares stories on touring with and being mentored from the likes of Chris Rock, Kevin Hart & Dave Chappelle, to growing up with his parents in jail, to script-writing, to advising up-coming comics. There are so many gems in this conversation with Kojo discussing why he's starting to be more open within his life and his work and passing on some advice on how to build and maintain meaningful relationships. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Kojo: IG: @officialkojo Twitter: @officialkojo Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @the_dreamersdisease Some topics we discuss: What impact the relationships he has with Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock & Kevin Hart have had on his career How the comed

"Embrace who you are and how you look to make yourself the best version of you and stop comparing yourself to others" In the first of a 4-part series, I invite Personal Trainer & Fitness Expert Ciara London back to the podcast to share some thoughts in the latest In Focus session. The interview we did way back in episode 7 had some amazing feedback, so I wanted Ciara to come back and delve into some of the topics she's most passionate about. In this session we discuss all things Health & Fitness with some amazing insights from Ciara on mental health, diet, body shaming, positive effects & more. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment. And be sure to share it with a friend who needs to hear this! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease

Catching up with Chuckie Online to discuss his career as a freelance DJ, Broadcaster, Podcaster and how he has dealt with endless amounts of rejection along the way. This is a very powerful conversation talking about how kids these days have lost the art of conversation, why we're living in a world full of online outrage & fake outrage and why happiness is his main focus moving forward. Chuckie also discusses how and why he started his own podcast after an accidental and long conversation with Grime legend Wiley and he speaks for the very first time on the impact and outrage around an episode of his own podcast featuring Reggie Yates. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Chuckie: IG: @ChuckieOnline Twitter: @ChuckieOnline Podcast: soundcloud.com/chuckieonline Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @the_dreamersdisease

"A quitter never wins and a winner never quits" On this In Focus session we discuss the fear of failure and why you should't let it hold you back from doing what you want to do. Ultimately making mistakes is the best way to learn and by constantly building on failures, it can only lead you on to more success. More often than not I find that the fear of failure is my gut telling me how much I actually want to do something. So it's time to start listening to your gut and start facing up to the fear. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment. And be sure to share it with a friend who needs to hear this! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease

Striving for greatness is something we all want for ourselves and DJ Semtex is the embodiment of that. A legend and pioneer in the UK music scene, I sit down with Semtex to discuss everything from discusses growing up in Manchester and dealing with racism from an early age, his earliest influences and having to overcome adversity as a teenager when he lost his right arm to a medical condition Lymphangioma. Delving into his career in music we touched on everything from working and touring the world with Dizzee Rascal, the art of making good music, adapting to changes in the music industry and how artists are becoming more and more business savvy. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment! contains strong language thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Semtex: IG: @DJSemtex Twitter: @DJSemtex Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease

“I think it's very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person.” - Oscar Wilde On this In Focus session I discuss the benefits of Space. It is becoming increasingly hard to create space for ourselves in our lives. We are constantly glued to the online world, TV, etc. Every now and then it is important to unplug from the Matrix and take some time out to reflect and give our brains the opportunity to just be present. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment. And be sure to share it with a friend who needs to hear this! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease

In episode 24 I sit down with the multi-talented Mim Shaikh to talk about his work as a Broadcaster, Actor and Poet. We discus his journey from Uni student radio to community radio to BBC Radio 1Xtra & Asian Network and how he's recently found giving more value through his work has helped to feel like he's fulfilling a bigger purpose.  If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Mim: IG: @mim_shaikh Twitter: @MimShaikh_ Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right either way" - Henry Ford On this In Focus session I discuss the power of your mindset and having a positive outlook. So much of our approach to each day or our work or our tasks is dependant on the mindset we have. We have to learn how to recognise and understand our mindset to allow us to be the best versions of ourselves and achieve all the success we have ever wanted. A lot of it starts from the language we use to talk to ourselves! If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment. And be sure to share it with a friend who needs to hear this! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi  Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease

To round-off what has been an incredible year for me personally, through launching this podcast, I sat down with my good friend Liam Klimek to discuss the top 5 things I've learnt and that have helped me in 2017 and the goals I set myself at the start of the year. We go quite in-depth on how having more self-belief and showing myself more self-love has helped me to have more clarity and focus on my vision. We also touched on how creating and writing out our vision can help you to put your dreams into action by applying to right focus and commitment to them. I hope this episode can help you in some way to better yourself, your career, your relationships going into 2018. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Liam: IG: @LiamKlimek Twitter: @LiamKlimek Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease

"Give up being perfect and start being authentic" In the second 'In Focus' session - where we'll be exploring and breaking down one topic at a time - I discuss why you should be your authentic self. We often spend a lot of time trying to cater towards other people and rarely lower our guard to show our true selves and as a result, don't feel comfortable showing our vulnerabilities and authentic side. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review or comment. And be sure to share it with a friend who needs to hear this! thedreamersdisease.co.uk Follow Dreamer’s Disease: IG: @the_dreamersdisease / @iamalexmanzi Twitter: @dreamerspod / @iamalexmanzi Soundcloud: @thedreamersdisease