Karo Bryant, shedkm, and Tom Dobson, public works

Listening not listening

Rachel and Emma discuss with their guests the value of respectful conversations both within businesses and with wider communities. They look at ways of creating diversionary activities to relax those who are being listened to, and how to be open to more difficult conversations.

The Listening Post Project is brought to you by writer and brand strategist Emma Keyte and leadership coach Rachel Birchmore. Find out more about Emma at www.free-projects.co.uk and Rachel at www.arebe.co.uk

Hanna Afolabi, Mood and Space, and Anna Rowell, Planning Aid for London

Listening is a creative act

Rachel and Emma explore the idea that softer skills like good listening should be elevated in the creative process. With their guests, they discuss how we can listen better to engage more actively with communities - and within collaborative teams.

The Listening Post Project is brought to you by writer and brand strategist Emma Keyte and leadership coach Rachel Birchmore. Find out more about Emma at www.free-projects.co.uk and Rachel at www.arebe.co.uk

Isobel Brodrick, DBR Limited, and Dhruv Gulabchande, HFM Architects/Narrative Practice

Open doors

Rachel and Emma explore themes of allyship and mentoring with their guests, asking how they ensure that younger members of the team are not only listened to and heard, but given ownership and influence.

The Listening Post Project is brought to you by writer and brand strategist Emma Keyte and leadership coach Rachel Birchmore. Find out more about Emma at www.free-projects.co.uk and Rachel at www.arebe.co.uk

David Ayre, Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt, and Anna Ifanti, 10N Collective

It ain’t what you say

Rachel and Emma talk to two business leaders about how how they ensure that everyone is heard in their organisations. They ask how can we tackle bias based on seniority, gender or race, and how can we move beyond our echo chambers?

The Listening Post Project is brought to you by writer and brand strategist Emma Keyte and leadership coach Rachel Birchmore. Find out more about Emma at www.free-projects.co.uk and Rachel at www.arebe.co.uk

The listening post project is all about listening better. It launched with an event in June and is co-hosted by brand strategist and writer Emma Keyte, leadership coach Rachel and architects Orms. They all need to listen well.

Emma and Rachel are now releasing a series of ‘B-sides’ which will explore aspects of listening in more detail.

In this B-side opening edition, we reflect on the June event, share some of our favourite clips from the evening and introduce the four follow-up episodes.

About the listening post project

Listening is a core skill for cohosts Emma Keyte and Rachel Birchmore. For Emma as a brand strategist and writer, and for Rachel as a leadership coach.

The listening post project launched in June 2025 in response to London Festival of Architecture’s theme of Voices. It’s a series of conversations looking at how we can listen better.

Find out more about:

Emma Keyte

www.free-projects.co.uk

Rachel Birchmore

www.arebe.co.uk

To hear the event playlist on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4JXSeR9QnRbxFXCrpqlwA6?si=zV6Vyxs8SwO8-0sVtuzcxQ&pi=uCf9WcrmR42C5

Ria Kalsi, Matriarch and Daisy Froud

How to listen better

Rachel and Emma are in conversation with two people who in different ways have made it their business to listen to under-heard voices. What have they learnt?

The Listening Post Project is brought to you by writer and brand strategist Emma Keyte and leadership coach Rachel Birchmore. Find out more about Emma at www.free-projects.co.uk and Rachel at www.arebe.co.uk

Linda Thiel and Louis Hermawan, White Arkitekter

Why should I listen to you?

Emma and Rachel explore listening in the context of hierarchy and generational difference.

The Listening Post Project is brought to you by writer and brand strategist Emma Keyte and leadership coach Rachel Birchmore. Find out more about Emma at www.free-projects.co.uk and Rachel at www.arebe.co.uk

The Listening Post Project, part of the London Festival of Architecture 2025, is led by writer Emma Keyte of Free Projects and leadership coach Rachel Birchmore of AreBe and Step Up.

In today's uncertain world, we need new ideas. While many initiatives amplify under heard voices in architecture, few focus on our ability to listen, leading to echo chambers that lack diverse perspectives.

Our adventure in listening facilitates conversations among individuals with valuable ideas who may not typically connect.

The Listening Post Project is brought to you by writer and brand strategist Emma Keyte and leadership coach Rachel Birchmore. Find out more about Emma at www.free-projects.co⁠.uk and Rachel at www.arebe.co.uk