Placecast, the podcast exploring place-based policy, regional development and local innovation, has officially passed 1,000 downloads, reflecting growing interest in conversations about how places can thrive.
Since its launch, Placecast has provided a dedicated platform for voices working across policy, research and practice. Each episode brings together policymakers, academics, practitioners and civic leaders to explore the realities of place: how decisions are made, how evidence is used, and how better outcomes can be achieved for communities.
Thanks to the guests who have given their time and insights, and to the listeners who have tuned in, shared episodes, and helped Placecast reach new audiences.
To celebrate this milestone, here’s a quick summary of all of the episodes so far. You can listen to them on the following sites:
Episode One
This conversation, between Dr Nicola Headlam, the LPIP Principal Investigator (PI), Professor Rebecca Riley and LPIP Leadership Theme Lead Dr Abigail Taylor, was a wide-ranging introduction to all things place-based, as all three women have a lot of experience moving within and between universities focused on subnational economic development.
Episode Two – Skills at the Local and Regional Level
In this episode of Placecast, Kostas Kollydas talked with Andy Westwood about the intricacies of skills development, regional inequalities, and the role of local and regional institutions in shaping effective policies.
Episode Three – Place leadership with Chris Naylor and Jamie Ounan
Abigail Taylor, Chris Naylor, and Jamie Ounan explore how effective place leadership—rooted in collaboration, local knowledge, ambition, and institutional reform—can drive inclusive and sustainable growth in communities.
Episode Four – Inclusive Innovation with Nina Ruddle and Gerardo Javier Arriaga-Garcia
Gerardo Javier Arriaga-Garcia sits down with Nina Ruddle, Head of Public Policy Engagement, Wrexham University. Their conversation dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of inclusive innovation, particularly in the context of Wales.
Episode Five – Bridging the Gap: Universities, Policy, and the Power of Place
In this episode of Placecast, Nicola Headlam speaks with Des McNulty about the evolving relationship between academia and policymaking, particularly through the lens of place-based leadership. They explore how universities can act as hubs of knowledge and collaboration, contributing to local and regional development by aligning research with real-world policy needs. Des reflects on his experience in Scottish politics and academia, emphasising the importance of natural economic units, the role of city regions, and the need for sustainable partnerships. The conversation highlights the value of accumulated expertise, the challenges of institutional structures, and the potential of place-focused strategies to drive meaningful change across the UK.
Episode Six – Connecting Knowledge to Impact in the North East
In this episode of the Placecast podcast, Nicola Headlam speaks with Liz Shutt, Programme Director at Insights North East (INE), about the evolving landscape of place-based policy innovation and the role of universities in shaping more responsive, inclusive, and impactful policymaking.
Episode Seven – Rethinking Public Funding and Place-Based Governance in England
In this episode of Placecast, Nicola Headlam sits down with Dr Charlotte Hoole and Professor Andy Pike for a deep dive into one of the most pressing challenges facing England today: how we allocate public funding and govern economic development across regions. Drawing on extensive experience in subnational governance and policy research, Charlotte and Andy offer sharp insights and grounded expertise in a conversation that’s both timely and urgent.
As England grapples with entrenched geographical inequalities and a fragmented funding landscape, this podcast explores the findings of their recent ESRC-funded project on improving public funding allocation. From reflections on the legacy of regional development structures to lessons from international models like France and Australia, the episode offers a compelling look at what it will take to build a fairer, more effective system of place-based investment.
Episode Eight – Dream Before You Think: Unlocking Civic Imagination for Social Change
Episode Eight of the Placecast Podcast dives deep into the power of place-based leadership and social entrepreneurship with guest Mark Swift, a social entrepreneur with over 15 years’ experience in health and care. Hosted by Nicola Headlam, the conversation explores how community-centred approaches can transform health outcomes, reduce demand on public services, and reconfigure system architecture for a more inclusive future. Mark shares his journey from NHS public health specialist to founding Wellbeing Enterprises, his lived experience shaping his mission, and his vision for civic imagination as a driver of social change.
Episode Nine – Place is a Unifying Force
In this episode of Placecast, Nicola Headlam sits down with Dr Sarah Longlands, Chief Executive of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES), to explore why place matters more than ever in shaping policy, economy, and community wellbeing. Their conversation offers a compelling case for moving beyond one-size-fits-all solutions and embracing the complexity of local contexts.
Episode Ten – What the UK Can Learn from Japan: Local Governance, Finance, and Place Leadership
Nicola Headlam speaks with Abigail Taylor (City-REDI) and Jeff Matsu (former Chief Economist at CIPFA and City-REDI Associate) about their groundbreaking comparative research on governance and fiscal devolution between Japan and the UK. Their work, supported by international partnerships and field visits to Osaka and Tokyo, offers fresh insights into how decentralisation and collaborative leadership can shape better outcomes for regions.
Episode 11: How Yorkshire Is Rewiring Civic–Academic Collaboration: A Conversation with Kersten England
Dr Nicola Headlam sits down with one of the UK’s most respected place‑based leaders: Kersten England, former Chief Executive of Bradford and York, Chair of the Young Foundation, and Co‑Investigator on the Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP).
Across a rich, wide‑ranging conversation, Kersten reflects on her 30‑year career in local government, her early academic foundations, and the lessons she’s learned about building alliances, mobilising evidence, and rewiring the relationship between universities and place.
Long Games and Local Places: How Rural Policy Really Changes with Michael Woods
Professor Michael Woods, Director of the Cymru Wledig LPIP (Rural Wales), offers a rich and thoughtful journey through Welsh devolution, rural policy, and the power of deeply embedded place-based research. It’s a conversation that blends decades of academic insight with a grounded understanding of how communities, policymakers, and researchers mutually shape one another.
Episode 13 – Planting Trees You’ll Never Sit Under: Why Nature Recovery Is Central to Regional Development
What if nature recovery wasn’t a “nice to have”, but a foundation of regional development? What if parish councils, farmers, and local communities were recognised as national assets rather than peripheral actors? And what if the future of England’s economy depended not only on cities, but on the rural places that quietly sustain them?
In Episode 13 of Placecast, host Nicola Headlam is joined by Professor Jane Wills, University of Exeter and LPIP Hub Delivery Team member and Dr Jack Reed, Research Fellow, University of Exeter, to explore exactly these questions through the Nature Recovery and Regional Development project. Their conversation moves from parish halls to Parliament, from oak trees to economic strategy, and from the hyper‑local to the national, revealing why place‑based leadership matters more than ever.
Episode 14: Power, Trust, and Community Organising in Birmingham
How do communities move from being consulted to being genuinely heard? What does it take to turn knowledge into influence, and influence into action? And what happens when universities, civil society and local leaders commit to working together over the long term rather than through short-term projects?
In this episode of Placecast, we explore these questions through a rich conversation grounded in Birmingham and shaped by decades of lived experience. Bringing together Angela Jeffery, Saidul Haque Saeed and Professor Sara Jones, the discussion focuses on community organising, civic leadership and the often-unseen relational work that makes meaningful change possible. Rather than abstract theory, the podcast draws on concrete examples from neighbourhoods, institutions and campaigns that have reshaped how power operates at a local level.
You can find all the episodes on the following sites: