Data City Founder Tom Forth has been told some extraordinary reasons why the North underperforms the South.Including that it’s down to Northerners being stupid. Or drunk. He’s even read academic papers outlining these theories.In a fascinating episode of the podcast, we get into a discussion on the real reasons. They go back a thousand years but transport and our hyper-centralised way of making decisions are right at the heart of it.I really hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I enjoyed having it.
--------
1:04:05
--------
1:04:05
Feast-Famine Electrification with Noel Dolphin
Why does electrification in the UK cost so much more than in the rest of Europe?And why does it always seem to go wrong?In today’s episode, I talk to Managing Director (UK) of Furrer+Frey, the leading Swiss engineering company.We delve into the root cause of the problem: the way HM Treasury makes funding decisions, which results in a feast-famine environment in which teams are trained, mobilised, demobilised and the skills lost. Repeatedly.We also discuss whether it’s going to get any better…
--------
29:25
--------
29:25
The Great Ghent Renaissance with Filip Watteeuw
𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲𝘂𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁, and the Alderman responsible for transport and mobility policy.He took over the portfolio and immediately set about trying to make Ghent a more beautiful, peaceful city.As I can confirm from having visited, he really succeeded! But not without a lot of difficulty, even including death threats.Today’s episode is a masterclass in the art of transport changemaking: the focus on experimentation, clear strategy and the need for urgency. He also highlights the power of storytelling, the limitations of data and highlights that, despite the death threats, the Circulation Plan helped him increase his majority at the next election.Come with me to Belgium and see just what a motivated, inspiring transport changemaker can do.
--------
38:00
--------
38:00
Risk-Taking, Rules and Death With Dan Garrett, Founder of Farewill
Founding a startup is hard, but it’s even harder when you’re dealing with the most painful and emotive moments in peoples’ lives.That’s what Dan Garrett decided to do when he created Farewill, now the country’s largest “Deathtech” firm.His business enables peoples to self-serve themselves wills, as well as offering other services including probate and even cremation.How do you move fast when you’re dealing with something as important as death? How do you get the right balance between risk, rules and pace?
--------
44:46
--------
44:46
Mini Holland and The Transformation of a London Suburb with Clyde Loakes
Mini Holland is the poster-child for the transformation of an urban area.A network of congested residential streets in North East London has become peaceful and tranquil. The local high street converted from a double-parked rat-run into a desirable pedestrianised destination.As the first Low Traffic Neighbourhood of the modern era, council reps from across Britain (and Europe) have visited to learn lessons.Not that I needed travel far: it all happened in Walthamstow, where I live, and my kids were two of the many who benefited.It was the vision of 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝘆𝗱𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀, and he tells me the full inspirational story in today’s episode.
The Freewheeling Podcast is all about moving forwards faster.
Each week, I’ll bring you fresh voices, new ideas and unconventional thinking.
With a bias towards transport and mobility, we also span entrepreneurship and politics.
Ireland