Research and Innovation

In this episode of Work in Progress , Dr Sanjay Popat speaks with Dr Jennifer Posa, the CIA's first Chief Wellbeing Officer and former senior leader at Johnson & Johnson and Mayo Clinic. Drawing on her experience leading wellbeing in some of the world's most demanding organisations, Jennifer shares insights into what wellbeing really means, why organisations should invest in it, how data and e...

How can local authorities make better, fairer decisions using evidence that everyone can understand and contribute to? In this episode of Gerrin’ On Wi’ It on the Research and Innovation Podcast, host Lauren Cox is joined by Zoe Lancelott and Rhianydd Davies from the Rhondda Cynon Taf Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC). Together, they explore “The Evidence Pie” — a simple but powerf...

Dr Jiachen Shi speaks to Dr Clare Richardson‑Barlow about Malaysia’s evolving approach to a just energy transition. In this episode, they discuss how Malaysia frames its energy transition through economic growth and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), and examine why labour voices - particularly trade unions - remain limited in shaping policy. The conversation highlights emerging opport...

Dr Clare Richardson‑Barlow speaks to Dr Jiachen Shi about China’s approach to just transition. Drawing on Jiachen’s research, they discuss China’s state‑led, “orderly transition” model, where renewable capacity is built before phasing down coal, and explore how national planning frameworks shape climate and energy policy. The episode also examines the integrative role of workers and trade unions w...

In this episode of Gerrin’ On Wit’ It , host Lauren Cox sits down with Kayleigh Renberg-Fawcett, Place Team Lead at the Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN), to explore the Yorkshire and Humber “Network of Networks” initiative. Together, they unpack how a growing number of academic–policy partnerships across the region are coming together to better connect research with real-world decisio...

What can organisations learn from hostage negotiation? In this episode of our “Work in progress” series, Dr Sanjay Popat speaks with former hostage negotiator Nigel Taberner about the psychological realities of working under extreme pressure. Drawing on more than 130 life-at-risk incidents, Nigel reflects on stress, emotional control, communication in high-pressure environments, and what leaders a...

Professor Alice Owen (Sustainability Research Institute, University of Leeds), Felix Kumi-Ampofo (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) and Professor Gary Dymski (Leeds University Business School) discuss what it really means for a regional economy to be successful, looking beyond headline growth figures to questions of inclusion and sustainability. Drawing on UK and US experience, they discuss devol...

Our special guest this episode is Tom Dickinson, founder of Tom's Talks. The episode centres around Tom's personal experience of losing his brother to suicide and how that shaped the work he does today, speaking in schools and workplaces about mental health and wellbeing. In this episode, we explore the intersections between suicide, masculinity, and work and reflect on what organisations can lear...

Tony Morgan and Dr Lena Jaspersen discuss experiential and team-based learning in this episode, sharing insights from both their classroom practice and their pedagogical research. They discuss the diverge-converge approach, how to include students with varying levels of confidence, language proficiency or neurodiversity, and their approach to building resilience in students. In this episode, they...

In this episode, Dr Sanjay Popat speaks to former child actor Brandon Baker, best known for Johnny Tsunami and other Disney Channel hits. They explore Brandon’s mental health journey in the context of how early career success shapes identity, the psychological impact of career transitions, and what it took for him to find meaningful work. This episode was recorded on 4 March 2026. A transcript of...

In this episode of “Gerrin’ on wit’ it”, Paul Hayes speaks with Kersten England CBE about how collaboration drives meaningful change across Yorkshire and the Humber. Kersten reflects on major moments in her long career within local government and contributing to local, regional, and national conversations to influence decision-making processes. These candid reflections provide examples that emphas...

In this episode of Gerrin’ on wi’ it , Paul Hayes sits down with community leader Kate Macdonald to explore what genuine cross‑sector collaboration really looks like in Yorkshire and the Humber. Drawing on decades of experience in academia, the NHS, and grassroots community projects, Kate discusses the challenges faced by the voluntary and community sector - from short‑term funding cycles to power...

In this episode of "Gerrin' on wi' it," Paul Hayes speaks with Dr Dan Olner from the University of Sheffield about bridging the gap between academia and local government. As a policy fellow embedded within the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), Dan shares his experiences working at the intersection of data science, regional economic policy, and collaborative governance. Dan discus...

In the first episode of our “Work in Progress” series, hosted by Dr Sanjay Popat, Sanjay speaks with NHS doctor, BAFTA award winner, and best-selling author Dr Ranj. Together, they candidly discuss Dr Ranj’s experience of burnout, as well as why the NHS has become such a high-risk environment for burnout, and what urgently needs to change. This episode was recorded on 27 January 2026. A transcript...

In this episode of "Gerrin' on wi' it," host Dr Andy Mycock speaks with Professor Joe Cook from the University of Hull about what makes collaboration work in research and community engagement. Joe leads the Communities in their Places cross-cutting theme for the Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP), working with local authorities, voluntary organisations, and residents across Yorkshire a...

In this episode of "Gerrin’ On Wi’ It", Dr Andy Mycock talks with Dr Peter O’Brien, Executive Director of Yorkshire Universities, about how collaboration is shaping the future of Yorkshire and the Humber. Peter reflects on the unique partnership between the region’s 12 universities, their work with local and combined authorities, and the remarkable journey since signing the 2021 Memorandum of Unde...

In this opening episode of "Gerrin' on wi' it," hosts Paul Hayes and Dr Andy Mycock set the stage for exploring collaboration across Yorkshire and the Humber - a region they argue is England's trailblazer for academic-policy engagement. Paul and Andy discuss the origins of the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (Y-PERN) and the Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP...

Professor Vera Trappmann speaks to senior researcher Dario Azzellini about his research on Colombia’s approach to just transition in this latest episode of the “Just transitions – a global exploration” series. Dario gives an overview of Colombia’s holistic and community-driven approach to just transition – where unions, activities and communities push for a post-extractivist future, despite immens...

In this episode of the Research and Innovation Podcast, Rashik Parmar MBE, and Professor Mehmet Dogar explore advances in artificial intelligence, responsible computing, and robotics. They discuss why responsible computing is becoming urgent, the challenges of making digital systems ethical and sustainable, and the ambition to position the UK as a world-leader in...

In this introductory episode, Professor Helen Hughes and Emma Findlay explain the purpose of the Surgical Care Observatory and why successful surgical innovation is about far more than the tech itself. They discuss system readiness, and how sociotechnical frameworks can help the NHS implement new technologies safely, effectively, and sustainably. This episode was recorded on 24th November 2025. If...

In this episode, Professor Magda Osman and Dr Sarah Jenkins discuss risk communication, exploring what role the social sciences play in risk communications, whether it can ever be objective, how people perceive and tolerate risk differently, and how trade-offs and context shape the risk decisions people make.  This episode was recorded on 4th August 2025. If you would like to get in touch reg...

Addi Manolopoulou speaks to Professors Shima Amini and Abdul Mohamed about their recent research on how climate change risk affects the performance of newly listed firms in the US. The discussion highlights how drought exposure, investor sentiment, and mandatory climate disclosures influence Initial Public Offerings (IPO) outcomes. With implications for investors, policy makers, and company leader...

After delivering insightful presentations at the Legal Tech in Leeds 2025 conference, Dr Virág Blazsek and Professor Danat Valizade have come together on our podcast to share some of the key themes they discussed at the event. In this episode, they talk about how legal tech growth is shaped by two main areas - workforce change and energy policy.  This episode was recorded on 24th June 2025. I...

Addi Manolopoulou speaks to Professor Steve Toms about his latest book - “Systems of Deceit – Financial Fraud and Scandal in the United Kingdon, 1700-2010.” Professor Toms explains the historical roots and systemic causes of financial crime in the UK, revealing how economic structures, deregulation, and shifting sectoral dominance have shaped fraud over the past 300 years.  This episode was r...

Dr Alexander Beresford speaks to Dr Temitayo Odeyemi about Temitayo’s research, exploring the key complexities and challenges of just transition in Nigeria. They discuss the involvement of Nigeria’s labour unions and sector-specific unions in shaping government policies around just transitions, and the different conversations that are happening at a national and subnational level when it comes to...