We Built This City: Greater Manchester
Incredible conversations with the Mancunians - born, bred and adopted - who put the heart into Modern Manchester. We Built This City focuses on how these extraordinary Mancunians have built something that impacts lives and the purposeful relationships that have helped steer them, the values that have driven them to do it, and the legacies they plan to leave behind. Celebrate human grit, determination, loyalty, and diversity across culture, arts, politics, sport, music and business. Lisa Morton interviews Mancunian icons like Andy Burnham, John Thomson, Gary Neville, Sacha Lord, Stacey Copeland, Clint Boon, Sir Richard Leese, Diane Modahl MBE, Ged King, Chris Brindley MBE, Carl Austin-Behan OBE, Karina Jadhav, Joanne Roney OBE and Sir Howard Bernstein.
Episodes
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Greater Manchester with Lisa Morton as she explores the enduring values that make Mancunians remarkable. This episode of 'We Built This City' brings together stories from past guests like Sharon Latham, Siobhan Johnston and Anna Jameson and others who embody the city's spirit of connectivity, generosity, and resilience.
You’ll hear stories of unexpected friendships and connections, career pivots and...
Dive into the vibrant world of punk rock, DIY ethos, and the transformative power of music with John Robb an adopted Mancunian who has built a life in the beats and bars of Manchester.
John is a prolific writer who was the first to write books on the likes of the Stone Roses and The Charlatans Discover the untold stories behind the city's gritty rise to musical fame and how John's relentless creativity continues to shape its future.
...
“We look after the community and try to grow Manchester”
Julie Twist is a property pioneer who has been helping to shape the city's skyline since 1994.
In this episode of "We Built This City," Julie recounts her unexpected leap from supermarket employee to city centre property specialist celebrating 30 years of her company, Julie Twist Properties.
Discover alongside host Lisa Morton how Julie took on a male-dominated...
“All of these formidable women, it’s amazing”
To mark International Women’s Day 2024, Lisa Morton is asking some of Greater Manchester’s most inspiring role models what they are both celebrating and campaigning for in 2024.
In this special episode of We Built This City, Lisa explores what’s changing for women across boardrooms, classrooms, changing rooms and dancefloors.
You’ll hear from Jane Kenyon, founder of Girls Out Loud, R...
“Music is all around us in Manchester. It really is!”
Join Host Lisa Morton as one of Manchester Music’s most influential figures DJ Paulette shares stories of breaking barriers and beats in a male-dominated industry, from blagging a lifetime Hacienda membership to spinning records at the city's most iconic venues.
In this episode, Paulette reflects on the legendary “Flesh” club night the Hacienda's first gay event, where Paule...
“We couldn’t have picked a better city to build this arena”
Dive into the electrifying world of live events with Sam Piccione. Sam is the President International of Oak View Group, the company behind the much-anticipated Co-Op Live Arena.
Sam’s work has taken him from the United States to China, London, and now Manchester, where he's helping to create a new state-of-the-art venue. Sam and host Lisa Morton discuss his journey from mus...
“You can have such a laugh with Manchester artists”
Yvonne Shelton’s musical career is as rich and varied as the city itself.
Her voice has echoed through the city's vibrant music scene for the past 40 years. She has performed as a backing singer for global stars, provided vocals for some of Manchester’s best-known artists and sang centre stage as part of the much-loved Hacienda Classical.
Yvonne's journey is...
“All good cities don’t turn their back on the river”
Dive into the transformational journey of Manchester's urban landscape. John Hughes has been a key player in the city's development for the past 20 years in his role at Ask Real Estate.
John started work just days after leaving university in 1997 when the city was still recovering from the IRA bomb. He’s since shaped some of the city's groundbreaking developments, like ...
“We're finding our feet again as a city.”
Lisa Morton is in the process of talking to one hundred born, bred and adopted Mancunians that have been - and are - the building blocks of Greater Manchester.
At the start of a new year it’s time to both reflect and look forward.
Who’s going to be running the city?
What are the events we'll be looking forward to?
And how is Manchester’s skyline going to change?
Lisa’s joi...
“I just love telling people’s stories”
When Michael Taylor left Lancaster for university studies in Manchester, he gained more than a sociology degree - he found a city to call home, a true adopted Manc.
Experience 1980s Manchester through Michael's memories of the clubs, relationships and a cultural vibrancy he came to embrace and love.
What did Michael learn from being at the heart of the city’s business world as the editor ...
“I started listing what I needed from a childcare provider”
When Jennie Johnson’s childcare plans fell through on a work trip to London, she had a lightbulb moment that led her to create a hugely successful business. Jennie founded the children’s nursery chain Kids Allowed. By the time she sold that business, 20 years later, Kids Allowed was providing childcare services for over 2000 kids a week.
Jennie is now...
“I came here with a blank page to be written on”
PR mogul Andy Spinoza came to Manchester from London in 1979, drawn by the city’s radical history, its growing music scene and the urge to find a place to “fit”.
Lisa Morton finds out how he tried and failed to interview Tony Wilson in a front room in Rusholme’s Moon Grove, what it was like to launch the alternative magazine “City Life” and why he described himself as “Manchester...
“Go out there and create. You've got to do it.”
Actor John Henshaw joins Lisa Morton for a conversation in City Tower, which overlooks Manchester city centre. It’s a very different skyline to the one John came to love as a child growing up in Ancoats during the 50’s and 60’s.
John, who was one of 14, was born and raised on George Leigh street. He jokingly describes his childhood as “feral’, but with lots of love, p...
Who's putting the "great" into Greater Manchester?
We Built This City is all about the people, places and relationships that have built the fabric of modern Manchester.
Season 4 launches on 2nd November. In this series, host Lisa Morton brings you the remaining 22 of 100 born, bred or adopted Mancs that have impacted the city region.
Anna Jameson is the broadcaster who wakes up Greater Manchester as the presenter of BBC Radio Manchester’s breakfast show. She’s also a reporter on North West Tonight and you can hear her on BBC Radio Five Live too.
Lisa and Anna discuss how Anna’s late Nan still inspires her, when she’s holding powerful people to account. Lisa also discovers what i...
Divina De Campo is a force to be reckoned with, both on stage and off. They’ve got the ability to sing in 5 different languages and up and down 4.5 octaves - whilst wearing some incredible outfits and heels.
Divina has the best laugh in showbiz and there are some real laughs in this conversation too. Underpinning it all though, are some strong value...
Maria Turner is the Client Services Director at Roland Dransfield. She’s recently celebrated 10 years at Roland Dransfield, having worked her way continuously from work experience - straight out of The University of Manchester - all the way to the leadership team.
Maria was an integral part of the team that created the “Roland Dransfield Way”, a set of val...
Artist Davo Howarth joined Lisa Morton in “Heaven” at Hotel Football for this week's episode. It’s a place that’s very close to Davo’s heart as it overlooks Old Trafford football ground.
A born and raised Manc, Davo is an artist who describes his style as “explosive.” In this conversation, you’ll hear how he navigated the school system growing up as a creatively minded kid...
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
Anna Sale explores the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.
A straightforward look at the day's top news in 20 minutes. Powered by ABC News. Hosted by Brad Mielke.