In this episode, we sit down with former Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees and Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson. In 2016, Marvin became the first directly elected mayor of black African heritage in a major European city. Joanne became the UK's first black female city mayor in 2021. They discuss the barriers they faced, their approach to inclusive urban governance, and how they worked to transform their cities while championing diversity and equality.

Overview of the episode:

[00:00:06] Introduction of the episode and guests

[00:01:30] Our guests' backgrounds: Marvin Rees and Joanne Anderson share their personal stories and what led them to become mayors

[00:06:14] Overcoming challenges as minority leaders in politics

[00:19:01] The importance of representation and policy in leadership

[00:23:40] The concept of "backlash" after holding leadership roles and how it affects future representation

[00:31:45] Barriers to securing seats in Parliament and the future of minority representation in UK politics

[00:42:38] Addressing "culture wars" and the role of leadership in bridging societal divides

[00:52:58] Key messages for city leaders and urban practitioners

[00:57:06] Freaky Friday Segment: Guests switch roles and answer in each other’s shoes

[01:02:49] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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