In the MEANtime

In this episode, Dr. Lauren Siegel and Dr. Ryan Young interview Dr Tippayanet Sorosrungruang about virtual influencers and her research on human–AI interaction, AI-enabled persuasion, and ethics. She distinguishes avatars (representations of real people) from virtual influencers (fictional characters built with CGI, generative AI, and deepfakes by human teams) and outlines types including human-like and non-human forms, plus brand-owned versus free-agent characters. Examples include Lil Miquela’s fashion/activism persona and “Nobody Sausage,” which has high engagement despite being non-human. The discussion covers why people relate to virtual influencers (computer-as-social-actor theory, social cues, reduced uncanny valley), who is receptive (younger consumers and those with high cognitive empathy but emotional overwhelm), and risks as tools democratise, including manipulation, sensitive endorsements, and hyperrealistic deception, alongside potential inclusivity representations and emerging companion/therapy-style AI avatars.

01:10 What Are Virtual Influencers

02:25 Avatars vs Fictional Characters

03:53 Lil Miquela And Branding

06:27 Why We Connect With AI

08:47 Nobody Sausage Success

12:05 Who Responds Most

16:14 Ethics And Regulation

18:57 Diversity And Virtual Death

20:05 Representation Versus Jobs

23:51 Future AI Companions

24:52 Publications And Wrap Up

In this episode, hosts Dr. Lauren Siegel and Dr. Ram Shamseen interview Dr. Pamela Zigomo about critical event theory, which examines underlying power relationships in event spaces and how event design can reproduce or disrupt inequalities. Zigomo discusses “entertainization,” describing how charities use popular entertainment to embed social messages, citing Global Citizen Festival’s model of requiring advocacy actions for access. She critiques past cause-related mega-events like Live Aid and Human Rights Now, noting research on limited long-term impact, Western-centric definitions of “top-selling” artists that excluded African performers, and “poverty porn” imagery that left audiences with distorted perceptions of the Global South. She previews her forthcoming book on third-sector event design beyond fundraising and shares post-colonial research on Southern African polo events and fan-community dynamics in fantasy football (FPL), highlighting recurring cycles of reproduced power structures.

00:30 Meet the Hosts

01:17 Critical Event Studies

03:30 Global Citizen Example

05:34 Entertainization Explained

09:57 New Book on Third Sector

11:42 Charity Events Beyond Fundraising

14:39 Live Aid Critique and Poverty Porn

19:17 Participation and Representation

22:07 Polo Events and Postcolonial Mimicry

28:33 Fantasy Football Fan Communities

In this episode, host Dr. Lauren Siegel, joined by Dr. Rami Shamseen, interviews Dr. Agnieszka Rydzik (University of Lincoln) about her research on how increasing use of technology in hospitality affects workers’ experiences, especially since the pandemic accelerated tools like QR-code ordering and self-service systems. Drawing on dozens of interviews with workers and industry stakeholders, she discusses how technology can intensify work, reduce staffing, create new pressures when systems fail, and shift customer frustration onto employees, often without enough training. Agnieszka also explores how these changes can reduce meaningful human interaction with customers, coworkers, and suppliers, contributing to disconnection and stress, while affecting workers differently by role and workplace.

01:25 Pandemic Tech Acceleration

03:57 Defining The Research Focus

04:35 Peak Times Staffing Pressures

08:09 Training And Tech Troubles

09:48 Why Hospitality Matters

12:03 Tech Reduces Human Connection

14:05 Invisible Workplace Tech Shifts

17:00 Gen Z Tech Reality

17:34 Human Connection Over Apps

18:01 Worker Centric Tech Rethink

18:29 Hospitality Futures Tool

20:39 Bartender Audio Narrative

22:19 Dehumanization and Manners

29:01 Guidelines for Better Practice

In this episode, hosts Dr Lauren Siegel and Dr Wenjie Cai welcome visiting researcher Dr Ian R. Lamond (University of Greenwich, March 2026) to discuss their work on “death spaces,” storytelling, and rituals. Ian describes their book Death and Events and autoethnographic reflections from death-industry practitioners and death scholars, sparked by a case where tourists photographed an Indian funeral. Ian shares their move into celebrancy—focused on LGBTQIA+ ceremonies, gender-affirming renamings, themed weddings/funerals, and non-human companion rituals—and links this to narrative, performance, and research. Ian shares an impactful experience from attending the São Paulo Pride event. connecting this to the need for ongoing queer resistance and legacy. They also outlines creating Leeds rainbow plaques and trails marking queer history, and defines events as ruptures that reveal power and enable change.

02:40 Studying Death Stories

04:19 Tourists at Funeral

06:06 Death Industry Insights

07:06 Celebrancy New Career

14:03 Rituals and Liminality

16:53 Living Funerals Trend

17:43 Sao Paulo Pride Story

22:09 Queer Legacy Projects

28:01 Critical Event Studies

32:10 Comedy and Farewell

Ian's edited book: Death and Events

Upcoming: International Critical Autoethnographic Perspectives on Death

In this episode, hosts Dr. Lauren Siegel and Dr. Rami Shamseen speak with Dr. Agnieszka Rydzik(University of Lincoln) and Dr. Maria Gebbels (University of Greenwich) about their forthcoming book, Central and Eastern European Women Academics in the UK: Making Britain Home (out 20 March 2026). Originating from reflections on the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU expansion and stereotypes about Eastern European women, the project gathered 29 first-person chapters by 30 authors, spanning PhD students to professors, to “give voice” to personal yet political experiences of migration, academia, language, and belonging. Contributors use diverse formats beyond essays, including poems, photography, collage, paintings, soundscapes, and dialogue.

01:27 Origin Story and EU Migration

02:49 A Personal Political Anthology

05:52 Trust and Writing Vulnerably

06:51  Authors' personal stories

15:25 Creative Formats and Methods

23:12 Language Identity and Accents

24:06 Diversity Across Backgrounds

26:19 Surprises Hope and Belonging

29:20 Who the Book Is For

30:22 Closing Thoughts

In this episode, Dr Lauren Siegel and Dr Chen Yang speak with Dr Ewa Krolikowska-Adamczyk and Dr Robert Arnett Robson about drama-based teaching techniques for higher education. They define drama-based techniques as using elements from acting—such as voice, body, classroom space, props, humour, and performance skills—to enhance teaching and student engagement, emphasising that attention is a key resource for lecturers. Ewa outlines three focal techniques from their work: sketches (short humorous scenarios), soliloquies (voicing a character’s internal thoughts aloud), and storytelling delivered with dramatic elements to create a memorable “wow factor.” They stress inclusivity by depicting relatable scenarios that do not alienate diverse students and explain their focus is primarily on lecturers using these techniques rather than requiring students to perform. Ewa shares her drama and theatre undergraduate background, while Rob describes an informal performance interest developed through corporate training and his doctorate in education on drama-based techniques; they explain how they connected with colleague Kevin Williams and now collaborate as “Act One Education.” They discuss applicability across disciplines (including nursing, science, engineering, and medicine), advise hesitant or introverted educators to start with small performance tools and remain authentic. They position drama as one tool within a broader teaching toolkit and plan to write more due to a gap in higher-education-focused research, and future research on barriers and fears that prevent educators from adopting these techniques.

01:09 What Are Drama-Based Teaching Techniques?

01:46 The Real Reason Drama Works: Winning Student Attention

03:05 The Big 3 Techniques Explained: Sketch, Soliloquy & Storytelling

05:39 Do Students Have to Perform? ‘Acting for the Non-Actor’

06:34 Workshop Storytime: The Skit That Hooked the Room (No More Death by PowerPoint)

08:23 How Ewa, Rob & Kevin Found Each Other (and Built Act One Education)

11:32 From Corporate Training to Global Classrooms: Drama Across Cultures

14:39 Can Drama Work in Any Subject? Real Classroom Examples

16:50 Nervous or Introverted? Start Small with Props, Space & Baby Steps

22:30 Making Learning Memorable (and Not Over-the-Top): Drama as One Tool in the Toolkit

26:39 Workshops Beyond Greenwich + Building a Community of Practice

28:59 What’s Next: Future Research, Barriers & Spreading the Word

In this episode, Dr. Lauren Siegel and Dr. Rami Shamseen are joined by Dr. Elisa Pannini to discuss labor unions, employment legislation, and workplace conditions. Dr. Pannini shares her journey into labor market research and talks about the significance of platform work as a major shift in the labor market. The conversation explores how unions are adapting to represent precarious and marginalized workers, the evolving landscape of labor regulations, and how technology is influencing labor dynamics. Dr. Pannini also highlights her upcoming research on the use of AI and algorithmic management in call centers and its implications for workers.

01:06 Dr. Pannini's Research Journey

03:02 Impact of Platform Work on Labor Markets

04:19 Union Efforts in Organizing Precarious Workers

05:15 Challenges and Opportunities in Worker Organization

10:08 Education and Workers' Rights

17:48 Global Labor Market Dynamics

21:40 Unions and Democracy

24:12 Future Research and Conclusion

In this episode, Dr Lauren Siegel and Dr Rami Shamseen are joined by Dr Laura William, an Associate Professor of Employment Relations and Equality. They discuss the employment challenges faced by disabled individuals, exploring why disabled people are more likely to be made redundant and how they struggle to re-enter the labor market. Dr William shares her personal and research experiences, highlighting the substantial employment gaps and legal barriers, including the 'medical model' of disability and the lack of legal representation in employment tribunals. The discussion also touches upon Dr William’s book, 'Claiming Disability Discrimination: Assessing Barriers to Justice,' and her groundbreaking database that maps out patterns in employment tribunal judgments. The episode concludes with insights into Dr William’s future research on intersectional discrimination.

00:51 Dr Laura William's Journey into Socio-Legal Studies

02:12 Evolution of Disability Law

02:56 Employment Gaps and Discrimination

04:14 Barriers to Justice for Disabled People

10:49 Challenges in Proving Disability

18:12 Mental vs. Physical Disabilities in Employment

20:44 Importance of Disclosing Disabilities

25:23 Creating a Disability Discrimination Database

26:14 Future Research Directions

Read Laura's new book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-74387-0

In this episode Dr Lauren Siegel and Dr Rami Shamseen are joined by Dr Maria Gebbels, Associate Professor in hospitality management at the University of Greenwich. The discussion centers around The Clink Charity, which operates fine dining restaurants inside working prisons where inmates are trained as chefs and front-of-house staff. The conversation covers The Clink's innovative approach, its significant social impact, the benefits it offers to both prisoners and the public, and Dr Gebbels' research on the transformative effects of this program. The episode also touches on the broader implications for rehabilitation and employment prospects for ex-prisoners.

00:18 Meet Dr Maria Gebbels

01:14 Understanding Critical Hospitality

02:26 The Clink Charity: Fine Dining in Prisons

04:17 How The Clink Charity Operates

08:40 Impact on Prisoners and Public Perception

18:29 Research Findings and Future Directions

In this episode, host Dr Lauren Siegel and guest host Dr Ryan Yung are joined by Dr Hyunjoo Lim to discuss the vital role of social media presence for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). Hyunjoo explores her recent research on ad repetition and social media interactions, highlighting how consistent exposure and peer engagement can enhance website traffic and sales. The discussion underscores the importance of SMEs maintaining an active social media presence and provides practical insights into starting and optimising social media marketing efforts. Real-life anecdotes and successful examples further illustrate the potential of social media in driving business growth.

00:37 Discussion on Social Media Marketing

01:05 Research on Ad Repetition and Effectiveness

05:41 Practical Implications of the Study

05:46 Power of Peer Influence in Social Media

08:08 Organic Content and Viral Success Stories

11:33 Target Audience and Platform Relevance

13:00 Getting Started with Social Media Advertising

18:17 Hiring Content Creators and Social Listening