CEF's Podcast: 'Inside Events'

<p>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 short-term economic...

<p>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 with younger...

<p>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 with Dr. Christina...

<p>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 community...

<p>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 gatherings. From music...

<p>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, South Africa...

<p>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 industry experience and...

<p>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 festivals have...

<p>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 Bradley, media...

<p>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 article presents a...

<p>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 this critical...

<p>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 Mazu pilgrimage, our guest...

<p>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, architecture, and ritual...

<p>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 article, The...

<p>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 the so-called...