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A squash ball to the ear is a painful reminder that sport isn’t just competition, it’s design, data, and decisions that protect and perform. From that opening jolt, we dive into the fast-moving world of sports technology with guests Dave Holt and Stephen Moore of Potter Clarkson, exploring how innovation is built, protected, and brought to life for pros and everyday athletes alike.

By the close, we’ve mapped a practical playbook for founders, rights holders, and teams: anchor bold claims in robust testing, choose IP instruments that match your speed and moat, and let brand and product reinforce each other when the tech reaches the public. Plus, we share the sports gadgets we wish existed, from rotation trainers to memory-wipe rackets for those embarrassing whiffs. 

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What should a newly qualified patent or trademark attorney be able to do on day one, and how should we train for a world shaped by AI, shifting client needs, and the public interest? We sit down with IPREG’s education review lead, Sally Gosling, joined by Katie Flett, to unpack the biggest rethink of qualification in years. From defining core capabilities to asking who even finds their way into IP, we explore the decisions that will shape careers, employers, and the users of the IP system.

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A chemist hears a patent attorney speak and sees a future. Years later, that same attorney is directing a national patent office and helping rewrite how innovation gets protected. This conversation with Maja Schmitt travels from labs and in‑house roles to China and The Hague, and lands on a bold policy move: the Netherlands is returning to examined national patents after years of registration-only grants.

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We celebrate five years of IP conversations with a festive look back at the moments that shaped the show. From lockdown origins to Earthshot wins and live sessions at INTA, we share what we learned from judges, founders, and the quirks that make IP human.

• Launch during lockdown and early interviews with sole practitioners and Tim Moss - link to episode here.
• Judges’ perspectives with Sir Colin Birss (link here) and Sir Robin Jacob (link here)
• Seaweed innovation, Notpla’s Earthshot win (link here), and Seagrown’s journey (link here)
• Trade secrets, pub recordings, and Donald O’Connell’s insights (link here)
• Live podcasting at INTA from Atlanta to San Diego 
• Playful bants, jargon gripes, and crafting better closing questions 
• Plans for future guests, UPC debates, and interviewing AI 
• Personal holiday plans and a warm seasonal sign-off

Merry Christmas and amazing 2026!

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Ever wondered who actually turns evolving case law and global agreements into the rules you use every day? We sit down with Heli Pihlajamaa, Principal Director of Patent Law and Procedures at the EPO, for a candid tour of how European patent law is shaped, tested, and delivered at scale. From examiner guidance to implementing regulations and user consultation, Heli opens the black box of decision‑making and shows how the system stays predictable while technology races ahead.

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Mental health training for line managers represents the most valuable investment an organization can make in supporting workplace wellbeing. This enlightening discussion brings together experts from Jonathan's Voice charity and intellectual property professionals to explore why this training matters and how it creates lasting impact.

The conversation reveals compelling evidence that proper mental health training, ideally a full day in person, equips managers with essential skills to recognize struggles, approach sensitive conversations, and implement appropriate support measures. But the benefits extend far beyond individual interactions. When done well, this training creates organizational consistency, develops a common language around mental health, and significantly shapes workplace culture.

You can download their guide free of charge from their website. They also have hard copies available on request. Do find a moment to have a look at this leaflet that includes signs to look out for, how to have the conversation and importantly, covers the necessity for those in senior positions to look after their own mental health.

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Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon lights up our podcast with her remarkable journey from child math prodigy to founder of STEMETTES, an organization transforming how young women engage with science and technology. With disarming candor, she shares the pivotal moment at a 2012 tech conference where she realized she belonged to a "shrinking minority" as a woman in tech, a revelation that sparked what she calls her "road to Damascus moment" and ultimately led to STEMETTES' creation.

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Want a clear roadmap to the new EQE without the confusion or the myths? We sat down with the people who helped design it to unpack the why, the what, and the how, so you can plan your path with confidence. 

Lee and Gwilym unpack with Chris Mercer, Julia Gwilt and Debbie Slater the new EQE structure with the leaders who shaped it, explain why the change was needed, and map the staged path from Paper F through M3 and M4. They share guidance for trainees, tutors, and firms on training registration, materials, exemptions, and transitions.

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A decade of transforming the intellectual property landscape through inclusion, allyship, and community building, that's the remarkable journey of IP Inclusive we explore in this episode with founder Andrea Brewster.

What makes IP Inclusive unique is its ground-up development, responding to the genuine needs of professionals rather than imposing initiatives from above. This approach has fostered the creation of thriving communities including Women in IP, IP Out for LGBTQ+ professionals, IP and Me for those from minority ethnic backgrounds, IP Ability supporting disabled professionals and carers, and IP Futures for early-career individuals. Each community evolved naturally and embraces allies, a concept that's been vital for engaging those in positions of influence.

• IP Inclusive fundraising: https://ipinclusive.org.uk/ip-inclusive-fundraising/
• IP Inclusive six communities: (https://ipinclusive.org.uk/community/)
• Their flagship event looking at how approaches to EDI are changing and how they can keep up the momentum: "The Case for EDI: Why we need to continue" on 4th November, see https://ipinclusive.org.uk/events/the-case-for-edi-why-we-need-to-continue/. 

Join us on the eve of Congress 2025: IP and AI for an evening of networking. The event is hosted by the CIPA EDI Committee by the invitation of the Congress Committee. Book your place here.

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On our last episode, we are stepping into the world of global intellectual property advocacy as we sit down with Margaret Polson and Lauren B. Emerson from the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) during the INTA conference in San Diego.