Meet the Mancunian-8.13- Daniel Firea transcript

Intro

Welcome to Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester. A warm Mancunian welcome from your host, Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. Thank you for joining me today.

Every Tuesday, I bring you the stories of Manchester's unsung heroes, the individuals who helped to create positive change in our community. My aim is to inspire you, your listener, to follow your own passions, whether through volunteering or working in the social impact sector. I'm also keen to spotlight good causes and create more awareness and support for them.

Whether you're tuning in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or on my website, www.meetthemancunian.co.uk, get ready for a season filled with inspiring tales of social impact within our beloved city.

Welcome to the 13th episode of Season Eight, the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester.

Introduction to Daniel Firea

Passionate about self-development, we hear from Daniel Firea, a self development YouTuber and photographer in this episode.

In Daniel's own words.

[00:01:12] Daniel Firea: I'm trying to promote working out, sport because me, when I was in that bad period, I stopped sport, I was eating bad, I was smoking, I was doing all these bad things that I'm saying. But after I managed to stop them, I start seeing an improvement in my mental health immediately just by stopping devices, starting sport again ,working out regularly dieting, so eating better, stopping the bad friendships.

[00:01:38] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you, Daniel, for joining me today.

[00:01:40] Daniel Firea: Thank you very much for having me. It's a pleasure.

Daniel's Journey to Self-Development

[00:01:43] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Tell us first about how you found your passion for supporting self-development and mental health in the community. When did that start and where did that come from?

[00:01:51] Daniel Firea: That started by me being at a very low point in my life at one point. I have been like really low. And I had them all, everything you can think about. I had a lot of vices- drinking, smoking, taking drugs, bad friendships, bad relationships, bad mental health.

Everything about me was absolutely wrong. And I hit rock bottom, and it was really painful. So the only thing that helped me to get back up from there was at one point hearing some motivational speakers planting some seeds. And making me to see the world a bit more positive. And also, at one point finding God.

And because of me being in that low point, it made me passionate. I want to help somehow other people that are in the same place I was because it's a very bad place to be. So I feel like I need to, if I managed to get out from there. I need to play my part and help them get out of there as well.

[00:02:50] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I'm so sorry that you had to go through that journey, but it's great that you're using your life lessons from that journey to help other people.

How did you start becoming a self-development YouTuber? And what are your aims?

Finding Passion in Photography

[00:03:06] Daniel Firea: The way I decided to become YouTuber is when I started to recover, let's say, or to get better somehow, I picked up a camera that I bought it, three years prior to that and was just staying on my shelf and collecting dust. So because now I was more receptive, I was empty inside, because I was more receptive to things and I needed to keep my mind away from bad things and habits.

So somehow camera kept me engaged. I started learning it and become a photographer and managed to land my role. So I did some freelance jobs as a photographer. Then I managed to land a corporate job as a photographer and content creator in a company. Later on, after that job, I manage another one as a videographer and editor for someone, and I'm still working as a videographer and editor for four days a week for my current employer, and I realised if I do videos for my employer why should I not do for myself?

But it also came from how I said earlier, the sense of, I need to somehow share my story and help other people that are going through difficult periods to stop vices, or maybe to manage to do a change of career as I done. Because prior to being a photographer, I was in a job that I was hating, in a warehouse job, and it was quite difficult. Now, you can imagine I feel more I don't know, fulfilled, more happy because at least I'm doing something that I like.

[00:04:38] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: That is really important to find passion and joy in what you do.

Broad Focus on Self-Development

[00:04:43] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Tell us a little more about the focus of your work. So when you talk about self-development, that's quite a broad area. Is there a particular part of self-development that you're focusing on your YouTube channel?

[00:04:56] Daniel Firea: I know it's broad, but I think I'm a very broad person. That's why it's very hard for me to get into a niche and say, for example, to say just mental health, just about quitting alcohol, or just about quitting drugs, or just about changing your career.

Like finding passion or just about being artistic, being a photographer, a videographer, there are so many things that I'm passionate about all of them. I feel like I'm broad, but I think, the message is more for my past self. So what that means, people that can be in a similar situation that as I've been, like maybe they work a job that they hate, maybe they are unhappy, maybe they feel like everyone is against them, but believe me, nobody's against them, just their mindset.

Maybe they feel the world is unfair. And the world is unfair, but they just need to manage and to learn how to deal with it. So like my past self, someone maybe that drinks regularly, someone that maybe takes recreational drugs, and, maybe someone that thinks taking recreational drugs once or twice a month or whatever the rate, they think it's normal.

Believe me, it's not even drinking. Even if you have just one beer a day that's, you're in a bad spot, in my opinion. Even if you drink weekly, you're in a bad spot.

Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle

[00:06:15] Daniel Firea: So I'm trying to promote now something like no vices. That means no alcohol, no cigarettes, no drugs, no vape, no bad food, no junk food.

I'm trying to promote working out, sport because me, when I was in that bad period, I stopped sport, I was eating bad, I was smoking, I was doing all these bad things that I'm saying, but after I managed to stop them, I start seeing an improvement in my mental health immediately just by stopping devices, starting sport again working out regularly dieting, so eating better, stopping the bad friendships.

So it's basically very general stuff. But, around this, like people that are lost, that they don't see a way out, that they are depressed, maybe that, that everything goes bad in their life. This is the people that I think I can help because this is the past me.

[00:07:06] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Absolutely. Those lived experiences that we've been through is so important because that gives you some authenticity and points of connection with other people who are, like you said, lost and looking for a new way which is a healthier way.

Overcoming Physical Challenges

[00:07:21] Daniel Firea: Another thing that I wanted to say is like also me. So when I was like from age of 14 to 20, I was really into bodybuilding, into sport. So I have this sport background that might help a bit with my mental toughness or things like that.

And at one point of 20 years, I got an injury on my back. So I have a disc herniation. And before I was using this as an excuse all the time. Oh, I have a bad back. Oh, I don't know what, but now, even with this injury that I have, I'm still working out regularly.

So I would like to also motivate, encourage people that no matter if they have an injury, no matter how bad it is.

You need to get moving. You need to do something. Don't just sit and don't do anything. Like me, my injury, like at one point I had a crisis. I don't know how to call it. My right leg was taken off completely. I couldn't step on it. Like the nerves on that. And I managed to recover from it, but it was really painful.

And for two days, I almost couldn't move out of the bed. But anyway, this is just the thing that some people have the impression that if they have a small condition or or any condition, you still need to find and adapt some exercises to your condition and work out, don't just stay and don't do anything.

Debunking Myths About Self-Development

[00:08:40] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: What's a common myth about your job or area of expertise? Is there any myths you want to bust and clarify to people?

[00:08:49] Daniel Firea: I think some people don't believe in self-development. They believe that, Oh, you don't know what I'm going through. And they take the victim mentality. And they are like, Oh, you're talking, but you don't know what you're talking.

Or they'll be like, easy for you to say and I know, I get it. I get there are people in worse situations than me and there are people in better situations than me. I'm telling you just this self-development works. If you have this myth that you think self-development doesn't work, it works.

Get yourself clean, stop all devices, find God, eat healthy, do sport regularly, go for walks and take some sunshine in, and you're going to see that 80 percent of your current problems will disappear like magic.

Then, take some books, there's literally books for every subject that you ever thought about. If you have a problem in your family, with, how to deal with your kids, with your spouse. It's a book for that. If you have a problem in your job, there is a book for that. If you want to change your job or your career, there are courses for that.

You can be anything you want. You don't need a university degree. My jobs now is not with a degree. It's just practicing. I don't have a degree. I have online courses. I don't have a degree. I have experience and I practice and sharpen my skills by myself. Then I put on a CV, all the skills that I have, all the courses that I done, and I apply for jobs and look at me now, second job on the field.

Any problem you have. With self-development, you will solve it. But of course you can say, Oh , I want to change. And I tried that and it doesn't work. You need to try all of them. You can't try, just do a course, but in the weekend, you go and you waste your nights and you drink too much and you take some drugs and after, start your weekend, the next weekend you do the same.

No, you need to be like on all aspects. You need to stop everything. That's how you do it, and your mind will get clear, and when your mind is clear, then you can think clear, and you can action clear, and you will find your path, and if you don't know, you ask for guidance, and the answers will come to you.

[00:10:59] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Self-development really works. I think it's really important to have a learning mindset and, like you said, be holistic in your approach.

What is the impact you've made so far through your YouTube channel?

The Long Game of YouTube Success

[00:11:12] Daniel Firea: What did I manage to accomplish with my YouTube channel? That's the thing. Not too much. Not that much, but I'm aware that it's the beginning and I'm aware that I need to work for it. And all, if you see all big YouTubers, they work for it. There are people that they say they seen success after two and a half years, after three and a half years.

Some others said they seen success after five, some other after seven. So me, I know it's a long game. I'm prepared to go up to 10 years into this game because I don't have anything to lose, and I don't see anything else better to do in the sense that I'm playing my part. I'm doing my job.

I'm trying to put materials there. If people like them, okay. If they don't like it, at least I tried. I don't have anything to lose. What I achieved is those, I don't know, 16, 17 videos. I don't know how many I have yet. Very interesting subjects. If you go on my YouTube and see, and I have many more interesting subjects to come.

Like I'm a very creative person and I have many ideas. My list of idea, I don't think I can end it in even in three, four years. So, I have, even from now, I already have the subjects. I just don't have enough time. I maybe need a second editor. I was thinking to find a volunteer at one point, someone that wants to maybe help me to edit videos.

Anyway, this is another story. So, what I achieved is me learning to communicate better, me trying to spread a good message and I'm doing that. It's very low at the moment. It's just few subscribers but I think it just needs time.

[00:12:49] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Absolutely, I think if you're determined and you're focused, sky is the limit and you can do anything.

When did you start your YouTube channel?

[00:12:59] Daniel Firea: So my YouTube channel, I started in November 2023 last year.

[00:13:03] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: An opportunity now for you to talk about anything I haven't asked you about

[00:13:07] Daniel Firea: If anyone is interested for any collaboration or if the same, they want, they have a story or they want to appear on my channel. The thing is with my channel, my YouTube, it's a bit broad because I'm doing talking heads, but I also tried some podcasting. If you're going to see my YouTube, I have also two podcasts there.

My YouTube channel, is it a podcast or is it just, but I think I'm a broad person and my YouTube will be a reflection of me, have very broad subjects and it could be even podcasts, that it can be even videos by myself. It can be even vlogs. So I think that's the direction of my channel.

What I would like to, if anyone is interested, so collaborations on any type, on any level, like even me going to other podcasts or if someone has they want to do like short videos and they need someone to play in their videos, if you get me like an, as an actor, but not an actor, you get me? If they need to, and from there, like from there we can share audiences basically, or things like that.

Signature Questions

[00:14:03] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Today's a beautiful sunny day. I was out in the garden before this, so I would say the colour of, like hot pink, cherry blossoms, or maybe a vibrant colour.

If you could choose a famous landmark in Manchester to represent you, which one would it be and why?

[00:14:20] Daniel Firea: I usually like nature, so parks around Manchester, or, but I don't know if it's classed exactly as Manchester. But, one big park that I remember I've been a few times in Manchester is Heaton Park. Yes, I will say that because that comes to my mind now and I've been there a few times.

I even have some a cool picture from there when I was practicing my photography around there with one man, and he had three or four dogs with him walking. And it was like a sunset in the same time and you will see the silhouette of the man and the three, four dogs on the field around there, something like that.

[00:14:50] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: That sounds very nice.

If you could trade lives with someone in Manchester for a day, who would it be with and why?

[00:14:58] Daniel Firea: Honestly, I wouldn't trade my life with anyone. I know it's just for a day, but I wouldn't trade it with anyone because I don't know. I don't know how to explain it.

[00:15:09] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Is there anybody you're curious about?

[00:15:11] Daniel Firea: I don't know, maybe with the mayor to see what's happening in Manchester.

[00:15:16] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: That's a very popular one that's emerging from people. People want to be Andy Burnham for the day. Interesting.

[00:15:23] Daniel Firea: To see the problems, to see what's going wrong, good and bad.

[00:15:27] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: What's the most important life lesson you've learned so far?

[00:15:31] Daniel Firea: The most important, I think, ignorance is not bliss. You need to find the answers. You need to look for them. You can't just stay and say I don't know. It's not good enough. You need to go and find your answers. And I get like that, those moments as I've been, when no matter where you look and you try to find it, you can't find it anywhere.

That is the moment when ask for it. And you ask for guidance from God. And he will respond to you, especially when you are in your worst, when you suffer the most, when you are in the biggest trial, then is the best time to go to God and speak to him. Then he responds better because I remember I was in a very bad situation, and I was like one morning after I drank all night and things like that.

And in the morning, I had some bad feelings every day, like a very low mood, And I started just praying and asking, why is this happening? Basically asking why is this happening? Why that? Why I said? I'm a good person and I'm trying to do my best. And why is it not working?

Then basically every question I had that I couldn't find an answer or that was stressing me in that moment I asked them basically, it was not even a prayer. It was asking, but I asked them straight to God. And since then, everything started to fall into place. My bad friendships went away.

My relationship from that time went away. And it's not like the person's work was bad from those relationship were friends, but the relationship itself was toxic. Not the persons, if you get me. Anyway, the dynamics of it was bad. So everything went away. And after things were showing up to me in a certain way that I could understand them.

He made me understand after. He made me, see the things and see the information that I needed at the right time. I don't know. I think one of the lessons is don't be ignorant. Go grab a book. Go search online for information that you need. If you're in a very low mood and you really don't know what to do, search for motivational content online.

It helps. Anything that will boost your mood. Don't watch more content that will put you even more down. Like you need to try to put some positive thoughts in your mind and sometimes you don't have them, because you have that very low mood. So go watch motivational, inspirational content. Buy a book that's about mindset.

That's about self-development. I think the most important lesson will be, don't be ignorant. Go and find and ask and you shall receive. All the time, even if you don't know it, if you ask, it will be given to you.

[00:18:04] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Very interesting because I have a very similar philosophy. I say the universe is always listening. So if you give your ask to the universe will come back. But if you don't ask for the support, it doesn't know what you want. So very similar philosophy.

I also believe that the podcast is trying to give out good news. So Meet the Mancunian spotlights good causes. And it tries to share good news in a world where there's a lot of bad news. Plus, of course, most importantly, inspire other people to follow their own passions and dreams. Thank you very much, Daniel. It's really good to see that common philosophy there.

[00:18:45] Daniel Firea: Beliefs. And like sometimes when you don't really know who to ask, try to ask God, the universe, whoever you believe in no matter which religion you are, ask your own belief or higher power.

[00:18:56] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Absolutely.

Final Thoughts and Contact Information

[00:18:58] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: What's the most important personality trait that someone would need to be successful as a self-development YouTuber in your view?

[00:19:06] Daniel Firea: It depends because I can't really talk from a successful point of view yet. I know I have value. I know I'm offering my best, but I know also I need to work a lot until I establish myself and I'm prepared to do that. I think, qualities like as honesty admitting when you've been wrong. Compassion probably for others, try to, understand them, put yourself into their skin, try to understand what they're going through, but sometimes too much compassion will lead people to victimhood, and it doesn't help them in any way. Again, compassion needs to be half with the honesty. So you also need to be honest sometimes with people. So don't be rude. But don't be too soft with them. It needs to be like a balance.

Don't know what else. Hard work ethic, discipline, learning, continuous learning, being connected with divinity. You can't do it alone. You need an external higher power, a power that's above you that you know will have your back.

Imagine if you don't believe in any higher power, and here I'm saying any, you can be Muslim, Christian, Jew, whatever, you can be believe in spirituality and whatever, but you need to be backed by this higher power because you will have these down moments and if you're by yourself, who will get you out from there.

Nobody, just this higher power will get you. And believe me, this higher power, it's all the time in connection with us. It's all the time, it listens to us. And if you ask it, it will give you that. That's like me until I didn't ask it. I it didn't give me anything. I was just going more down and down.

And my life was a mess. But when I started to ask, all the answers started to come. They will not come like in immediately in a night, but looking now back over the past four years, all the questions I ever had, they are all responded now. I feel like most of the questions that I had, they've been answered to over the period of time.

[00:21:12] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Think this is really important.

How can interested people reach out to you and learn more? Where can they find your YouTube channel and you have a website?

[00:21:20] Daniel Firea: My website is www.firebred.co.uk And my Instagram for pictures portfolio, if they want to see my pictures, it's firebred_photography. And my YouTube is firebred_development.

[00:21:42] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I'll include that in the show notes.

Thank you so much, Daniel. It's been a pleasure to talk to you.

[00:21:47] Daniel Firea: Thank you very much as well.

Outro

Daniel, I really enjoyed learning about encouraging self-development today.

Dear listener, thank you so much for listening to the 13th episode of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast Season 8.

Tune in every Tuesday for a new episode or log on to www.meetthemancunian.co.uk to listen to all the episodes and learn more about my podcasting story.

Next week on Tuesday, 3rd September 2024, I speak to Hemant Patel about supporting the youth.

Thanks for joining me on the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester. I hope today's conversation has sparked new ideas. and inspired you to act in your community.

A big thank you to my wonderful community for your continued support and valuable feedback. Your stories shape the very essence of my podcast, driving me forward with purpose. I'm eager to hear your thoughts. Visit my website at www.meetthemancunian.co.uk to share your insights. Remember, this podcast is your platform too.

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Keep fostering connections and always remember the power to change the world lies within each one of us. Until next time.