Time Out: your city or mine?

In this final episode in the current season of your city or mine?, Julio meets Lord Michael Cashman, politician, writer and actor. First a child actor in the 1960s and 70s, Lord Cashman became famous (and stirred controversy) in the late 1980s in the UK when he played an openly gay man in the hugely popular soap EastEnders. He later co-founded Stonewall and became Britain’s first special envoy on LGBT issues. He became a MEP in 1999, a position he held for 15 years, and later left the Labour Party over his opposition to Brexit. He currently sits in the House of Lords – fiercely dedicated to equality – and has recently published a memoir, One of Them. Plus, Julio speaks to Michael Juliano, editor of Time Out Los Angeles, about the latest trends in the Californian city.

In this episode of your city or mine?, Julio meets Thomas Heatherwick, the visionary founder of Heatherwick Studio and the design pioneer behind recent landmark projects including New York’s Little Island and London’s Coal Drops Yard. Heatherwick also redesigned the classic Routemaster red bus in London. Heatherwick’s passion is ‘how to make the world around us better’, meaning his designs are more than designs: they’re plans to improve the lives of everyone who uses them. Heatherwick also discusses designing an electric car that cleans the air and working on the 2012 Olympics – and avoiding designing an Olympic cauldron destined to collect pigeon droppings for decades. In Heatherwick’s world, the future is lovable and sustainable.

In this episode of your city or mine?, Julio meets Ben Roberts, CEO of the British Film Institute – the government-backed body which champions the art, business and future of movies in the UK. Ben has been at the BFI since 2012, but he only took over as CEO in early 2020, just as Covid hit. Here, Ben talks about leading the BFI through the pandemic and discusses his vision for a thriving and diverse film culture in the UK. In this episode, Julio also talks to Phil de Semlyen, Global film editor of Time Out, about October’s BFI London Film Festival and which exciting upcoming films to look out for.

In this episode of your city or mine?, Julio meets Nancy Pfund, the founder and managing partner of impact investors DBL Partners. Nancy was an early pioneer in investing for social and environmental good and sits on the board of several influential companies - including Tesla, in which she was an early investor, smartly spotting its potential to disrupt and revolutionise the motor industry. Nancy lives in the Bay Area in California. In this episode, Julio also talks to Zach Long, editor of Time Out Chicago, about the latest trends in the Windy City.

In this episode of your city or mine? (and the first to be recorded in person!), Julio meets Melanie Leach, CEO and co-founder of South Shore Productions. Melanie is an award-winning British TV executive who has spent decades creating popular TV shows for the BBC, ITV, Netflix and others – including ‘The Real Marigold Hotel’, ‘Educating’ and ‘Hotel Inspector’. Here, Melanie talks about working in TV since she was a teenager; how streaming is changing viewing habits; why she hopes the government won’t privatise Channel 4; and how factual television can make a big difference to people’s lives.

In this episode of your city or mine?, Julio meets Annastasia Seebohm, CEO of Brilliant Minds Foundation – co-founded by Spotify’s Daniel Ek to bring together the world’s most influential thought-leaders. Annastasia was previously the Group CEO of Quinessentially. Here, Annastasia talks about wanting to leave a mark on the world; being a young CEO; the cities she loves; what we can all learn from Sweden; and being a mentor to others. Plus, Julio speaks to Tatum Ancheta, editor of Time Out Hong Kong, about the latest trends in the city.

In this episode of your city or mine?, Julio meets Bess Freedman, CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, one of the largest privately-owned real estate companies in the US. As the market recovers from the pandemic, Bess talks about how our housing needs have changed; about why Bill de Blasio has failed New York as its mayor and what’s needed next; about how we can all use our power to help others; and about why she’d like to give every single nurse and teacher in NYC a 25% raise. Plus, Julio speaks to Maria José Gómez, editor of Time Out Barcelona, about the latest trends in the city.

In this episode of your city or mine?, Julio meets Tabitha Jackson who since early 2020 has been the Director of the celebrated annual Sundance Film Festival in Utah. As the festival’s offshoot Sundance London returns to Europe this summer, Tabitha talks about her love for London; about how streaming services are changing the world (often for the better); about reimagining a festival during Covid; and about her previous career as a producer of films and TV. Plus Julio speaks to Vera Moura, editor of Time Out Lisbon about the latest trends in the city.

In this episode of your city or mine?, Julio meets Jess Scully, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney who since 2019 has gained a well-earned reputation for wanting to shake things up and create a future city designed for everyone – not just the few. Raised in Sydney, but with experience of living in many places around the world, and with a celebrated background in cultural curation, Jess tells us why she wants to bring the best of Bangkok, London, Tokyo, Berlin, Amsterdam and elsewhere to her hometown. Plus Julio speaks to Maxim Boon, editor of Time Out Sydney about the latest trends in the city.

In this episode of your city or mine?, Julio meets Kunlé Adeyemi, the brilliant Nigerian architect, academic and entrepreneur. Based in both Lagos and Amsterdam, Kunlé is the founder of the architecture firm NLÉ which meets the huge challenges of climate change in imagining cities of the future. Kunlé tells Julio why his city is Lagos; how Kigali in Rwanda has clamped down on plastic and could even be considered ‘heaven’; and why we all need to rethink how we live in a time of rising waters and rapid urbanisation. Plus Julio speaks to Virginia Gil, editor of Time Out Miami about the latest trends in the city.