Distant Yarnings

In this episode of the podcast Distant Yarnings, hosts Jim and Julie interview Alison Purvis, an Associate Dean at Sheffield Hallam University, to discuss her extensive career in learning, teaching, and student success. The conversation centers on navigating the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence in higher education, specifically highlighting Purvis's creation of an AI transparency sca...

This episode features a collaborative discussion with the digital education leadership team from the University of Leeds, exploring the intersection of pedagogy, space, and technology. The conversation centers on the "cross-stitch" of human connection and digital infrastructure, highlighting initiatives like Helix, an on-campus innovation space designed to foster creative collaboration a...

In this episode of Distant Yarnings, hosts Julie and Jim sit down with Kristof Fenyvesi, a senior researcher at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research, to explore the evolving role of modern schooling. The conversation broadly examines how educational institutions can move past rigid, siloed structures to foster better human connections, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and meaningful eng...

Hosts Julie Lindsay and Jim Harris welcome Stephanie McDonald , an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology and the Digital Learning Director for the Faculty of Science at the University of Nottingham. Stephanie outlines the scope of the University, which serves over 40,000 students across three campuses in the UK, China, and Malaysia. While the university focuses primarily on face-to-face...

In this episode, hosts Julie and Jim are joined by Mark Childs and Julie Usher from Durham University (UK) to discuss the complexities of learning design within a high-ranking, research-intensive institution. The guests describe the unique "Oxbridge" vibes and college system of Durham while addressing challenges such as classism , the need for widening participation , and the struggle to...

Hosts Julie Lindsay and Jim Harris welcome Stefanie Savage-Campbell, Senior Educational Projects Manager at Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, who is also part of the JISC Beyond Blended pilot group. Stefanie discusses her role in managing strategic projects across the university, noting that she often occupies the "weird third space" between professional services and acad...

Julie Lindsay and Jim Harris welcome special guests Sarah Knight, Director of Digital Transformation at Jisc, and Sheila McNeill, Independent Consultant working on the Beyond Blended program. The discussion centers on Jisc's three decades of work supporting UK universities and colleges with technology, internet connectivity, and digital strategy. They trace the organization’s foundational work...

Julie Lindsay and Jim Harris begin Episode 2 by discussing the JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee) organization and its role in UK higher education, including providing a nationwide internet service and negotiating for resources like e-books. They introduce their guest, Lisa Jacka from UNISQ (University of Southern Queensland), who was involved in the JISC Beyond Blended pilot. Hosts: Julie...

Welcome to the very first episode of  Distant Yarnings ! In this debut, Julie and Jim introduce the heart of their podcast — built around “yarning” (the art of meaningful, narrative-rich conversation) and the many meanings of “distance” in modern education. Hosts: Julie (Australia) & Jim (UK) Date and Length: September, 2025. Approx. 50 min. Theme: Distance, learning, storytelling, and a dash...