Organising Eurovision in Liverpool on behalf of the Ukraine presented challenges, to say the least!

We hear the inside story of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the second part of our conversation with Claire McColgan CBE, Director of Culture and Major Events at Liverpool City Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

And we learn how the power of the arts in regenerating the city is being shared throughout the region in 2026 – and the impact this has on the culture of local communities and of the city council as a place to work.

Meanwhile lessons learned in Liverpool are being seen as a blueprint for other parts of the country, with Claire part of a Government taskforce developing a national events strategy.

Claire is in conversation with Caroline Kenyon.

Liverpool is a city which takes culture seriously – and that affects how it feels to live, work or holiday there.

There have been many highlights, such as Eurovision, the Giants, the Tall Ships and all the great sporting events which take place around the city region.

How did it all begin – and why does the city invest so much in the arts?

The answers may surprise you, in this frank conversation with Claire McColgan CBE, Director of Culture and Major Events at Liverpool City Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Claire is speaking to Caroline Kenyon and this is the first of two episodes, starting with a look back at how it all began – and the bumps along the way.

Listen to part 2: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2430579/episodes/18867541

Do you work for a corporate psychopath – would you know if you did?

A lack of empathy, avoiding responsibility and superficially charming – these are some of the traits identified by our guest, business psychologist Andy Whitehead.

Andy tells us how to spot the signs – and what to do if your boss fits the profile of a corporate psychopath.

And for anyone who matches the description of a toxic boss, you may not recognise yourself, as a lack of self-awareness is another clue. But listening to this episode is the first step to gaining that self-awareness and becoming a better manager.

Andy Whitehead: My Toxic Boss Hates Me - YouTube

Dr Robert Hare discusses the diagnosis of psychopathy

Download Andy Whitehead’s free guide: How to Deal With a Toxic Manager (Includes red flags, boundary-setting tips, and steps to protect yourself) 👉 AI Placeholder - Leadership Mojo

Hosts Juliette Kumar and Caroline Kenyon speak with coaching psychologist Dr Rachael Skews about psychological flexibility in leadership. Rachael explains how acceptance and commitment—skills that can be developed—are essential for achieving long-term goals. She shares practical insights on recognising difficulties, committing to what matters, and helping individuals and organisations perform at their best.

In the NHS, improving workplace culture is vital to providing a safe environment for patients. If staff are too scared to speak up when something goes wrong, it can endanger the lives of people in their care.

That's why culture is so important to the Health Services Safety Investigations Body, who are brought in when there are concerns about patient safety.

Their interim Chief Executive Dr Rosie Benneyworth tells us why investing in patient safety saves lives – and ultimately saves money.

Rosie is in conversation with Caroline Kenyon.

Find out more about the Health Services Safety Investigations Body:

https://www.hssib.org.uk/

When something goes badly wrong in an organisation, human factors are often identified as the cause.

When things work well it can be because human factors – or ergonomics as the science is also known – have been considered in the planning.

In this episode we hear how human factors are being applied in the NHS, from setting up a new service to planning a new hospital; and how a human factors approach helps to build a healthy workplace culture.

Our guest is Fran Ives of Health Innovation West Midlands, who is the President Elect of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors. Fran is in conversation with Caroline Kenyon.

Useful links:

Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors: https://ergonomics.org.uk/

All Systems Ergo podcast: https://www.healthinnovationwestmidlands.org/our_work/all-systems-ergo-podcast-2/

Renowned culture expert and author Andrew Saffron helps organisations to tackle cultural barriers to success – and he says it can and should be done at speed.

He reveals some of the techniques he uses to help companies identify the attitudes and behaviours that are slowing down or blocking productivity – and how they can overcome them.

Andrew, of Innermost Consulting, has recently published ‘Better culture, faster – because you don’t have time for bullshit’ and he is as straight talking as the title suggests.

You will learn why culture isn’t ‘the soft stuff’ and how a direct approach to resetting culture can lead to success.

Andrew is in conversation with hosts Juliette Kumar and Caroline Kenyon.

Useful links:

‘Better Culture Faster’:https://practicalinspiration.com/pip-author/andrew-saffron

Andrew Saffron and Innermost Consulting: https://innermost-consulting.com/

The vision of one person led to a nation-wide business success which still reflects its founder’s values, 65 years later.

Engineering consultancy Curtins started in the home of founder Bill Curtin and now has 14 offices around the UK and Ireland.

Curtins' Director of Engagement and Culture Rhiannon Carss explains how Bill’s socialist approach to supporting disadvantaged communities ultimately led the business to becoming employee-owned. The company is also a member of the Purpose Coalition, a network of organisations who are committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, chaired by former Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening.

Useful links:

Curtins: https://www.curtins.com/

Engineering Change: Curtins and The Purpose Coalition Lead the Way in Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity https://www.purpose-coalition.org/impact-reports/curtins