CEF's Podcast: 'Inside Events'
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ATMOSPHERE IS A SOCIAL CONTRACT: WHY ORGANISERS, FANS, AND CITIES MUST CO-CREATE IT TOGETHER
An electric event atmosphere can’t be manufactured—it emerges organically from rituals, participation, and shared emotion. Yet too often, organisers mistake spectacle for atmosphere, investing in…
THE OTHER WORLD CUP: WHERE DISPUTED NATIONS FIGHT FOR RECOGNITION
For millions living in unrecognised or contested regions, football offers more than sport—it’s a powerful tool to assert identity, belonging, and visibility beyond the boundaries of statehood. In…
DRIVING REAL SOCIAL IMPACT BY CO-CREATING A THEORY OF CHANGE
Despite growing expectations for events to deliver lasting legacies, most organisers still rely on economic metrics while overlooking the harder-to-measure social outcomes that matter most to…
THE SUSTAINABILITY “SIGNALS” EVENT SPECTATORS ACTUALLY NOTICE—AND WHAT THEY MISS ENTIRELY
Sustainability has become a central promise of many events, yet new research reveals that spectators often overlook or misinterpret organisers’ efforts. Audiences tend to recognise only the most…
Authenticity Over Spectacle: Why the Island Games Matter
The Island Games tell a remarkable story of community, identity, and resilience in global sport. In this episode, Dr. Michael Duignan speaks with Dr. Matt McDowell to explore how this unique…
HOW TO MAKE EVENTS CATALYSTS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: REFLECTING ON A DECADE OF SPIRIT OF 2012’S WORK
Too many events promise social impact but fail to plan, measure, or deliver it in meaningful ways. In this episode, we explore what it truly takes to create lasting event legacies that go beyond…
THE OLYMPIC GAMES AND ESPORTS: HOPELESS MARRIAGE OR OBVIOUS PAIRING?
Esports has exploded into a $2 billion global industry, attracting over 500 million spectators worldwide and offering the International Olympic Committee (IOC) unprecedented opportunities to connect…
From Scandal to Reform: Is FIFA Changing?
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar wasn’t just about football—it became a global lightning rod for debates on corruption, governance, and ethics in sport. In this episode, Dr. Michael Duignan speaks…
DESIGNING HUMAN-CENTERED SPORT EVENTS TO ENRICH LIVES—LESSONS FROM ARCHERY GB
In this episode, Dr. Michael Duignan speaks with Mark Briegal, Chair of Archery GB, to explore how archery events go far beyond competition to deliver powerful benefits for health, wellbeing, and…
The Science of Crowds: Decoding Human Movement at Scale
In this episode, Dr. Michael Duignan speaks with Dr. Bachar “Bash” Kabalan, an expert in crowd dynamics, to unpack the science behind how people move, interact, and sometimes collide in mass…
Rebranding a Nation: Lessons from South Africa’s 2010 FIFA World Cup
In this episode, Dr. Michael Duignan speaks with Dr. Brendan Knott to unpack the transformative power of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in reshaping South Africa’s global image. Once viewed with skepticism,…
How Events Can Make Better Decisions Under Risk and Uncertainty
In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Claire Drakeley from the University of Northampton, whose work is reshaping how we understand decision-making in live event delivery. Drawing on her extensive…
Mega Sports Events Get Millions, Cultural Festivals Gets Scraps Yet Delivers Regeneration At the Heart Of Communities —It's Time To Flip The Model
Why do the events that truly change lives, foster inclusion, and rebuild divided communities struggle hardest to survive? From the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to Derry’s City of Culture, cultural…
How academics can utilise the media to transform research into valuable resources for industry
The global events and festivals sector shapes public space, cultural identity, and social change—but academic voices often remain unheard outside university walls. In this candid discussion, George…
When Cities Fight Back: Why Communities Are Resisting The Olympic Games Like Never Before
Resistance to mega-events is no longer fringe — it is an organised, global movement reshaping how cities engage with the Olympic Games. Based on extensive research across ten Olympic cycles, this…
The Hard Edge Of Soft Power: What Mega Events Really Leave Behind
Beneath the spectacle of fireworks, opening ceremonies, and global fanfare lies a harder truth—mega-events reshape cities, but often at the expense of the very communities they claim to uplift. In…
The Wellbeing Power of Pilgrimages
In this episode, we explore how pilgrimage events can offer more than just spiritual fulfilment—they can support physical, social, and emotional wellbeing. Focusing on Taiwan's famous Dajia…
What Did the Berlin 1936 Olympics Teach Us About Sport and Soft Power?
The 1936 Berlin Olympics provided the world’s first systematic blueprint for using global sporting events as instruments of soft power, propaganda, and image management. Through spectacle,…
The Trickle-Down Illusion: Why Major Events Often Miss Grassroots Sport Participation Targets
Does elite sport truly inspire everyday people to get more active? In this episode, Dr Mike Duignan speaks with Dr Georgia Teare, Dr Girish Ramchandani, and Dr Luke Potwarka about their recent…
Sport or Spectacle? Exposing the Olympic Industry's Dark Side
Behind the glittering spectacle of the Olympic Games lies a complex and troubling reality. In this episode, Professor Helen Jefferson Lenskyj, a leading critic of the Olympic movement, exposes how…
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CEF's Podcast: 'Inside Events' has published 31 episodes since May 2025, covering topics in Science, Social Sciences.
CEF's Podcast: 'Inside Events' is currently dormant with new episodes hourly. Average episode length is 28m.
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