CEF's Podcast: 'Inside Events'

In this gripping episode, Dr. Gjoko Muratovski joins Dr. Michael Duignan to explore how the 1936 Berlin Olympics became one of the most powerful exercises in political propaganda in modern history. We unpack how Nazi Germany orchestrated the Games to manipulate global perception, influence international diplomacy, and lay the foundations for today’s mega-event spectacles. From torch relays and architectural grandeur to the dark art...

The Olympics promise legacy—but who actually benefits? In this compelling episode, Dr. Judith Mair joins Dr. Michael Duignan to explore the complex realities behind Olympic-led urban transformation, focusing on Tokyo 2020 and the road ahead to Brisbane 2032. From gentrification and displacement to truth-making and indigenous inclusion, they interrogate the disconnect between promised legacies and lived experiences. Judith challenge...

In this episode, Dr. Brian McCullough unpacks the environmental blind spots of major sports tournaments, using March Madness as a case in point. With 80% of emissions linked to fan and team travel—often ignored in official assessments—he challenges the sustainability claims of neutral-site models. We explore whether regionalization could be a realistic solution, what women's tournaments can learn, and how fans, organizers, and ...

What really happens when things go wrong at a live event—and how do professionals decide what to do next? In this episode, Dr. Claire Drakeley reveals why decision-making at events is more complex, creative, and consequential than most people realise. Drawing from her PhD research and years of frontline experience, Claire explores the psychological and practical dynamics of making high-stakes calls under pressure. From routine issu...

How can major sporting events genuinely serve the communities that need them most? In this powerful episode, Dr Mike Duignan is joined by Dr Shushu Chen to explore a question too often ignored: what do global mega-events mean for socioeconomically deprived communities—and what should they mean? Drawing on years of research and real-world insights from events like London 2012 and Birmingham 2022, Shushu challenges the assumption tha...

London 2012 promised to be a game-changer for disability rights. But over a decade on, how much really changed? In this episode, Dr Mike Duignan is joined by Dr Verity Postlethwaite to critically examine the legacy of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. While the event broke new ground in integrating Olympic and Paralympic agendas and spotlighted elite parasport, many disabled people argue that everyday barriers remain—if not worsene...

What turns a vibrant crowd into a deadly one—and how can we stop it from happening again? In this episode, Dr Mike Duignan speaks with crowd safety expert Dr Alison Hutton to unpack some of the most devastating crowd disasters, including Astroworld and the Love Parade. Through the lens of “cooperative crowding,” Alison explores how shared responsibility, environmental design, and real-time coordination can transform chaos into calm...

The Paralympics are often praised for inspiring a generation, but does watching elite athletes with disabilities actually get more people moving? In this episode, Dr Mike Duignan speaks with Dr. Chris Brown to unpack the complex realities behind this popular narrative. Drawing on a decade of research, they explore whether the demonstration and festival effects really drive participation, or whether deeper systemic and social barrie...

When most people think of Pride, they picture city parades, big-name sponsors, and rainbow-soaked streets. But a quieter revolution is unfolding across the rural US—from Pikeville, Kentucky to small towns in Arizona—where LGBTQ+ communities are claiming space, visibility, and belonging in powerful ways. In this episode, Professor Michael Duignan speaks with Beck Banks, whose research explores the rise and impact of small-town Pride...

Glastonbury is famous for its iconic music, mud-soaked fields, and festival spirit—but could it also be a blueprint for surviving the climate crisis? In this episode, Dr Mike Duignan talks with climate scientist Dr Richard Betts about how major festivals like Glastonbury are becoming microcosms of our global environmental challenges. From renewable energy and green transport to heat adaptation and eco-activism, festivals are experi...