How did a local cake shop become a hub for creativity, community, and entrepreneurship?

Ryan Rowe has recently become an Entrepreneur in Residence for Cardiff Business School, representing his and his partners’ business, Let Them See Cake, a Cardiff based cake shop and brunch cafe.

He chats with Peter about how pandemic restrictions sparked a new direction for his business, taking us through the journey of this popular cafe and commercial kitchen.

Peter and Ryan also discuss the benefits of supporting local businesses, giving back to the community, providing opportunities for networking and mentoring, and inspiring a new generation to pursue creative business ideas.

In this episode, Dr Genevieve Shanahan joins Peter to explore her interest in alternative organisations and their potential to foster democratic practices and shared purpose.

Genevieve discusses how these organisations can influence markets and policymakers at enterprise scale, driving meaningful change to help steer society back on course in the face of the climate crisis.

Peter also explores Genevieve’s political activism and her recent research into democratic technologies designed to support co-operatives.

What is the psychology behind money?

In this episode, Professor Arman Eshraghi, finance expert and honorary professor of finance at Cardiff Business School, unpacks how structured biases and personality traits shape market movements and investor decisions. In conversation with Peter, he delves into the rapid spread of information and disinformation in today’s financial landscape, and the illusion of risk-free profits.

Arman also reflects on modern methods of sharing research, including his TED Talk, and his journey into psychology.

Dr Andrew Glanfield, School Manager at Cardiff Business School and a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, shares insights into his work championing, developing, and supporting professional services staff.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Andrew highlights the value of knowledge sharing, honesty, empowerment, and board games for building strong, collaborative relationships between professional services and academic communities in higher education.

How can organisations stay confident and creative during change?

In this episode, Peter chats with Sharanne Basham-Pyke, Director of Shad Consultancy Ltd, a trusted advisor to organisations across the private, public and third sectors.

Sharanne shares her journey, including 16 years on Cardiff Business School’s International Advisory Board, where she’s helped build strong, lasting connections.

Known for her expertise in business change and tremendous personal energy, Sharanne talks about working with large organisations to tackle challenges and spark innovation. She shares practical insights on how to stay purposeful, think creatively, and keep the bigger picture in mind.

Professor Martin Kitchener shares insights with Peter on Cardiff Business School’s enduring commitment to Public Value. He chats about his role in establishing this ethos and multidisciplinary way of working through which the School distinguishes itself through today.

As Dean from 2012 to 2018, Martin challenged expectations by applying his research in public service governance, change, and performance to create a more rewarding experience for staff, students, and stakeholders.

He also shares how Cardiff’s economic context makes it an ideal setting for a Public Value business school and discusses his current research into purpose-driven organisations.

Professor Maneesh Kumar joins Peter to discuss quality management, process excellence, and how adopting a public value approach, both environmentally and socially, can significantly enhance business calibre.

He shares insights into the power of cross-disciplinary, global collaborations and their role in solving complex challenges more effectively.

Passionate about equality, social enterprise, and healthcare, Maneesh talks about how his personal commitment to morals, ethics and family connect to making a meaningful impact on society, the community, and the wider world.

What role does branding play in today’s ethical landscape?

Dr. Zoe Lee, Reader in Marketing at Cardiff Business School, joins Peter to discuss the growing commercialisation of the non-profit sector—and how businesses, in turn, are becoming more values-driven. Zoe draws on her research into how charities use branding to drive awareness and donations.

Together, they unpack how brand ethics influence consumer trust, talent attraction, and public perception. Zoe also shares insights on why brands must be bold in engaging with socio-political issues, and how storytelling and standing up for values is key to staying relevant in a rapidly changing world.

In the first episode of our third series, Peter sits down with Amy Boote, a PhD student with a passion for fashion and sustainability.

After working as a buyer for a well-known retailer and feeling powerless about how to improve conditions for garment workers, Amy began her research project: Environmental Impact and Gender Inequality in the Fast Fashion Supply Chain: An Ecofeminist Perspective.

Amy discusses how she is motivated to break down the complexities of her research on climate resilience, empowering the garment worker voice and make a visible difference to supply chain policies.

Curious to hear a clear explanation from an economist? Is there a link between alcohol pricing and violence? In the final episode of the series, Peter talks to Dr Iain Long about embedding public value into the economics degree programmes and his research which addresses key societal challenges.