CEF's Podcast: 'Inside Events'

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 leveraged the tournament to project a new narrative of pride, unity, and capability on the world stage. Brendan shares insights from his extensive research, exploring how strategic branding, media management, stakeholder alignment, and community mobilisation helped the nation harness the event’s potential. From football Fridays and youth engagement programmes to cross-sector partnerships between government, business, and media, the conversation reveals the deliberate actions that underpinned the World Cup’s branding success. The discussion also tackles sportswashing, brand authenticity, and whether these lessons can be replicated by other emerging nations seeking to reposition themselves globally through mega-events. A must-listen for anyone interested in nation branding, event strategy, and legacy planning.

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 doctoral research, Claire explores the psychology and complexity behind real-time decisions made under pressure—where outcomes can impact safety, reputation, and the very fabric of the event industry. Rather than relying on instinct or experience alone, Claire is developing a new framework designed to make event decisions more transparent, accountable, and robust. We discuss why event decision-making has remained an under-researched area, the limitations of traditional models, and the importance of agility, simulation-based training, and ecological rationality. Whether you’re on the ground at a major venue, managing stakeholder expectations, or developing future policy, this conversation provides timely insights into building more professionalised and resilient decision-making practices across the events sector.

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 delivered powerful legacies—driving regeneration, strengthening social bonds, and projecting national values globally. Yet, while these festivals scramble for basic funding, governments continue to pour billions into mega sporting events with questionable long-term benefits. In this powerful critique, Shona McCarthy, former CEO of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, challenges outdated event funding models. She calls for new success metrics, equitable investment, and cultural participation embedded in social policy. If policymakers are serious about real, people-centred legacy, the solution is clear: sustained investment in culture, creativity, and communities—not just concrete, stadiums, and fleeting spectacle.

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 strategist for the Centre for Events & Festivals, explains why that needs to change. He argues that academics are trusted experts the public and media want to hear from—yet many hesitate to engage, unsure how to translate dense research into accessible, impactful narratives. Drawing on years of experience, Bradley offers practical advice: simplify your message, focus on relevance, and treat media conversations like real-world dialogue, not academic seminars. From op-eds and expert quotes to podcasts and social media, he highlights how strategic, authentic media engagement amplifies research, builds institutional reputation, and drives real-world impact—especially in applied fields like events and festivals. If scholars want to influence policy, public debate, and industry practice, now is the time to find their public voice.

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 new theoretical framework that explains the evolution of community resistance, from street protests to subtle, everyday acts of defiance. Drawing on sociological theory and transnational case studies, the authors reveal how opposition emerges across the event lifecycle, fuelled by concerns over displacement, inequality, and democratic exclusion. Yet, resistance is not inherently destructive. When organisers engage with it seriously, it can become a catalyst for more equitable, credible, and community-driven events. As public trust declines and global activist networks grow, understanding and addressing resistance is no longer optional — it is essential for the survival and legitimacy of the mega-event model.

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 analysis, Dr Sven Daniel Wolfe exposes the hidden consequences of events like the Olympics, World Cups, and Expos, arguing that soft power is anything but soft. Behind the carefully curated images of unity and progress are patterns of urban exclusion, displacement, and authoritarian governance—even within democratic states. Drawing on global case studies, Wolfe reveals how Potemkin-style developments, superficial participation, and the illusion of sustainability mask deep social divides and long-term harm. If cities are serious about legacy, transparency, and inclusion, they must challenge the event industry’s seductive narratives—and confront the authoritarian tendencies that often accompany global spectacle. The time to demand accountability, resist exclusion, and rethink mega-events is now.

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 discusses how this iconic event blends religious tradition with personal growth, community belonging, and even recovery from life’s challenges. Drawing on the Centre for Health Promotion (CHP) model and bottom-up spillover theory, we unpack how the pilgrimage fosters wellbeing through three key dimensions: physical challenge, social connection, and spirituality. Intriguingly, even non-religious participants—especially those seeking reflection or emotional renewal—report significant psychological benefits. We also reflect on practical recommendations for organisers, from better supporting first-time attendees to creating spaces for both spiritual and secular engagement. Whether you're an event organiser, researcher, or curious listener, this conversation reveals how pilgrimage events can be reimagined as platforms for holistic wellbeing and social connection, while honouring their sacred roots.

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, Nazi Germany constructed an alluring but misleading narrative of modernity and unity—while concealing oppression and persecution. Nearly a century later, this model persists. From Beijing 2008 to Qatar 2022, mega-events continue to project curated national images, often masking uncomfortable truths such as human rights abuses, social displacement, or geopolitical ambition. This podcast critically examines how both authoritarian and democratic hosts exploit spectacle as a tool of political storytelling. It argues that without greater transparency, accountability, and protection for dissenting voices, global events risk becoming sophisticated instruments of manipulation, not celebration. Understanding the enduring influence of Berlin 1936 is essential for ensuring future events serve society—not just state agendas.

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 Trickle-Down Illusion, based on UEFA Euro 2020. Using comparative data from across 11 European host nations, they critically assess the widely held belief that mega-events boost grassroots sport participation. Their findings challenge the assumption that symbolic nationalism, athlete success, or event visibility alone translate into widespread community engagement. Instead, the discussion reveals how fragmented governance, structural inequalities, and the absence of coordinated legacy strategies continue to undermine participation outcomes—especially among underrepresented groups. From pandemic disruptions to policy shortfalls, the episode unpacks why the 'trickle-down effect' remains more myth than measurable impact, and what must change if sport events are to deliver genuine social return. A vital listen for policymakers, sport managers, and future event bidders.

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 “Olympic industry” masks corruption, authoritarianism, and human rights abuses beneath rhetoric about unity, peace, and sporting excellence. We unpack how host city selection is dominated by opaque deals and political influence, how displaced communities and marginalised groups pay the price, and why public trust in the Games is collapsing. Lenskyj argues that rather than fostering global solidarity, the IOC has become an unaccountable, profit-driven organisation that resists meaningful reform. From Beijing to Brisbane, from soft power to sportwashing, this conversation reveals the contradictions at the heart of the modern Olympic project — and considers alternative models rooted in joy, inclusivity, and genuine social justice. Is it time to rethink global sport altogether?