University of Northampton Podcasts

Mental Health Nursing students sat down with academic Iain Schrantz to talk about dealing with stress and maintaining their wellbeing during their studies. The students are part of the Health Academy, a UON placement initiative where students provide health advice and interventions for fellow students and the wider University community.

As part of the ‘Holistic Health’ podcast series, AssociateProfessor Dr Tracey Redwood from the University's Centre for Health Sciences and Services sat down to talk with UON Counsellor Danny Davidson about ManSpace, a 'drop-in and chill' initiative that also supports the mental health of male students and staff. They are joined by Niall Redmond, former student and who now works at UON as a Customer Service Assistant, about why ManSpace is important.

We sat down with key people at our last Open Day and chatted about the day, what students can get out of an Open Day and what questions you should always try to get answered before you leave.This podcast was recorded live during the event and the audio may be affected by this.Find out more: https://www.northampton.ac.uk/about-us/contact-us/open-days/

Our Centre for Health Sciences and Services podcast episodes is called 'Holistic Health'. They are about about bringing the ethos, research and work out of the University and into the public domain.For this episode, the UK’s only Professor of CompassionateCare – Al Aynsley-Green, also a Visiting Professor at UON and a medical doctor – sat down to chat about his career and area of expertise and reflections on the recent death of his wife.Al also talks about the issues he sees with compassionate care in the UK in 2025 and where the health service should concentrate it efforts.Al’s looking for a "momentum" in compassion in UKhealthcare and sets a challenge for listeners to respond about what they feel – or will action – after listening to this conversation.Compassionate care is a key part of many UONdegrees and courses, so Al is joined by CHSS co-lead and Associate Professor Dr Tracey Redwood (a children and young people’s nurse) and Senior Lecturer in AdvancedNursing, Win Hughes. They cover Professional Nurse Advocates at UON, how care and compassion is woven throughout undergraduate curricula at UON and Mental Health First Aid training that is given to all UON undergraduate Nursing students.The University will hold its second Care and Compassion conference on 30 March 2026; keep an eye on on our events page for more.The next Holistic Health podcast episodes will cover single mothers and the stigma around online dating, support dogs and BAME/GEM people who work in the NHS.

Toru Digital is an innovative agency that solves problems for their clients using AI, deploying solutions that work. Listen to them talk about their journey, how to crack AI in the future and how working with UON helped speed them along. Find out more: https://www.northampton.ac.uk/business/fuelling-innovation/

As part of our Student Futures Careers Expo, we're putting on workshops to get you prepped for how to approach the shows. Here from Matt our workshop host on how to connect with people, build confidence and make a spark in your conversationsExpo details here: https://www.northampton.ac.uk/student-life/student-futures/careers-expo/

Northamptonshire is a powerhouse of innovation – home to global brands like Warner’s Gin, Weetabix, and GXO Logistics, not to mention the thousands of SMEs that are always innovating for their customers, their businesses and their communities. With a rich heritage of enterprise and a vibrant ecosystem of forward-thinking businesses, it’s the perfect place for innovation to thrive.Fuelling Innovation is a dynamic campaign designed to ignite creativity, foster collaboration, and build a stronger future for businesses across the region. Through a packed programme of events, workshops, conferences, and networking sessions, we’re sparking new ideas and driving growth.https://www.northampton.ac.uk/business/fuelling-innovation/

Dr John Pendleton, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery and his student Connor Harvey sat down with Associate Professor Dr Tracey Redwood for this episode of the ‘Holistic Health’ podcast from our Centre for Health and Sciences and Services. Dr Pendleton discusses his career as one of around 170 male midwives in the UK and his research that looks at men in a largely female profession and how an old profession such as midwifery is seen works within modern world settings.John and Connor also discuss how these investigations inform the Midwifery teaching and learning experience at UON. Connor is one of only two, male-identifying Midwifery students at UON and he covers how he wants to make a difference for his patients and the profession.

For the second of their series of ‘Holistic Health’ podcasts, Centre for Health Sciences and Services co-lead, Associate Professor Dr Tracey Redwood, invited UON PhD student Elaine Williams. Elaine’s research on the lived experiences of perimenopausalwomen who have undergone BoTNA (Botox) treatment. Elaine discusses the methods she used for research that explores themes of aging, self-perception and emotional wellbeing and the support she had from Tracey and colleagues in getting her PhD underway. She used I-poems to highlight participants’ narratives,providing fresh insights into the intersection of aesthetic medicine and mental health.There's more about Elaine and her research on the CHSS Pure page.

Since 2019 the University has run ‘research for the price of a cuppa’ (and cake!) talks called Café Scientifique, part of our Centre for Health Sciences and Services (CHSS). In this first 'Holistic Health' podcast episode from CHSS, centre co-lead AssociateProfessor Dr Tracey Redwood, Professor John Horton and Project Administrator Ruth Hughes-Rowland gathered to talk about what the Café are, the impact of recent talksand why members of the public should come along.The next Café is on Thursday 18 September with Associate Professor Dr Declan Ryan talking about green spaces in Northampton.Find out more about Café Scientifique on the team’s Pure page.

Northamptonshire is a powerhouse of innovation – home to global brands like Warner’s Gin, Weetabix, and GXO Logistics, not to mention the thousands of SMEs that are always innovating for their customers, their businesses and their communities. With a rich heritage of enterprise and a vibrant ecosystem of forward-thinking businesses, it’s the perfect place for innovation to thrive.Fuelling Innovation is a dynamic campaign designed to ignite creativity, foster collaboration, and build a stronger future for businesses across the region. Through a packed programme of events, workshops, conferences, and networking sessions, we’re sparking new ideas and driving growth.https://www.northampton.ac.uk/business/fuelling-innovation/

Northamptonshire is a powerhouse of innovation – home to global brands like Warner’s Gin, Weetabix, and GXO Logistics, not to mention the thousands of SMEs that are always innovating for their customers, their businesses and their communities. With a rich heritage of enterprise and a vibrant ecosystem of forward-thinking businesses, it’s the perfect place for innovation to thrive.Fuelling Innovation is a dynamic campaign designed to ignite creativity, foster collaboration, and build a stronger future for businesses across the region. Through a packed programme of events, workshops, conferences, and networking sessions, we’re sparking new ideas and driving growth.Find out more: https://www.northampton.ac.uk/business/fuelling-innovation/

Northamptonshire is a powerhouse of innovation – home to global brands like Warner’s Gin, Weetabix, and GXO Logistics, not to mention the thousands of SMEs that are always innovating for their customers, their businesses and their communities. With a rich heritage of enterprise and a vibrant ecosystem of forward-thinking businesses, it’s the perfect place for innovation to thrive.Fuelling Innovation is a dynamic campaign designed to ignite creativity, foster collaboration, and build a stronger future for businesses across the region. Through a packed programme of events, workshops, conferences, and networking sessions, we’re sparking new ideas and driving growth.Find out more: https://www.northampton.ac.uk/business/fuelling-innovation/

In this episode we talk to Ziggurat XYZ about keeping the creative industries thriving in Northampton, fuelling innovation through connections with universities, HR and financial practices and keeping at the cutting edge of a growing sector.Listen if you're a fan of YouTube, want to start your own business, or are passionate about Northampton and our place in the country.

Unsung Educators, hosted by Adam Chapman, Senior Lecturer in Education with University of Northampton’s aims to highlight inspirational stories which celebrate the impact of teaching and all the roles which support effective learning in schools. In this episode Adam speaks to Becci O’Rourke-Holder who worked her way up to a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant following the birth of the first of four children in 2007, and after some failed attempts and while overcoming dyslexia, she will graduate with a Teaching Degree in November andis due to start a Teaching Apprenticeship in September. Joining them both is Jenny Toone who started working in the kitchen of her village school following the birth of her first child 16 years ago. After volunteering at a second school helping children with their reading and providing day to day support, she was asked by the headteacher to be come afull time Teaching Assistant and went on to get a distinction in her Level Three Teaching Assistant qualification. When the Covid pandemic hit Jenny found herself teaching as well as being a key worker for the children in her school. Discovering she had the ‘knack’ for teaching she was encouraged to apply for a Foundation Degree inTeaching.

Northamptonshire is a powerhouse of innovation – home to global brands like Warner’s Gin, Weetabix, and GXO Logistics, not to mention the thousands of SMEs that are always innovating for their customers, their businesses and their communities. With a rich heritage of enterprise and a vibrant ecosystem of forward-thinking businesses, it’s the perfect place for innovation to thrive.Fuelling Innovation is a dynamic campaign designed to ignite creativity, foster collaboration, and build a stronger future for businesses across the region.This podcast will explore these businesses through on-site conversations about their story, how they innovate every day, and give tips on how you can boost your business or idea.

Professor Micheal Kenney is Posvar Chair inInternational Security Studies, Director of the Matthew B. Ridgway Center, and Professor of International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. Last year he signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Criminal Justice Team here at the University of Northampton. The agreement aims to increase knowledge exchange and open up opportunities for students andresearchers at both institutions. This month he held a fire side conversation with SeniorLecturer in Criminal Justice Studies, Tina Billington-Hughes and today I talk to him about his research interviewing drug traffickers and terrorists as well as shifting the focus from a militarised, state-led crack down on criminal leadersand networks, towards a more holistic approach which removes the demand and motivation to get involved with drug gangs or terrorists.

In the latest in the series of Unsung Educator podcasts,Adam Chapman, UON’s Senior Lecturer in Education spoke to Ryan Moore, currently Assistant Educational Psychologist at North Northamptonshire Council having obtained a Master’s Degree in Psychology at UON in 2022. After leaving school Ryan started as a Sports Coach then dida foundation degree in Learning and Teaching. But then while working as a Learning Support Assistant he became frustrated at not being able to cater for the most challenging children he came across.Unsung Educators began to amplify the hard work and impact of Teaching Assistants but encompasses all those roles inside education aside teaching itself. 

The first in a new series of podcasts - Discovering Adult Nursing at UON: The Student Voice! - with Senior Lecturer Anna O'Neill catching up with her students about how things are going with the degrees at University of Northampton.First up for a chat was Sharla ('Shar') Cook. She talks about her motivations for wanting to become a nurse and her academic route to university. Shar is now a course representative and also discusses with Anna the support UON offers, what it's like to study here, how the degree is structured, the '6 Cs of nursing' and more.Find out more about Adult Nursing at University of Northampton.

“I always said I’d never be a teacher…”Sam 'O'Brien's mum was a teacher, a profession her daughter maintained she would never pursue.Fast forward a few years and not only has Sam done that - through University of Northampton's (UON) BA in Learning & Teaching (BALT), but she’s combined her new-found love for education with her passion for Japan, teaching Japanese children in England and LGBT+ issues and awareness.Sam is also neurodivergent and, in this episode of our Unsung Educators podcasts - all about support roles in teaching and the people who study for them - she talks about her strategies for keeping on top of her university studies and the support she had from the academic team. Find out more about BALT and other teaching courses at UON.

During National Apprenticeship Week 2025, University of Northampton officially announced several new apprentice programmes planned to start very soon.Simon Longhurst, our Apprenticeships Manager, and academics leading on two of the new apprenticeships – Lisa Slaughter for Project Management and Dr Kardi Somerfield for Digital Marketing – sat down for a chat about these new additions. They talk about the modules their programmes will include, the support apprentices received – even down to their mental health and wellbeing – who the right apprentices are and professional accreditation and memberships that are part of their programme plans.You can find out more about Apprenticeships at UON on our website and email the team if you have any questions: [email protected]

Professor of Child Advocacy Eunice Lumsden has been a social worker and, latterly, a childhood, youth and families professional for several decades. Squeezing in all of her knowledge and experiences was always going to be a tall order for a single podcast episode! Tune in to hear about Eunice’s fascinating, varied careers, including leading University of Northampton’s Childhood, Youth and Families (CY&F) subjects areas, part of our Golden Threads series of podcasts with Dr Helen Simmons and Robin Sturman-Coombs exploring the themes that run throughout the CY&F sector. The trio also discuss how our courses help shape the development of the CY&F workforce and what our students get out of studying and how getting a degree helped Eunice to influence and shape national policy. See our website for more about CY&F courses.

David Waller, University of Northampton's Senior Lecturer in American Politics and Marco Gundermann, the University’s Head of Economics, International Relations and Development delve a bit deeper and explore who Donald Trump is, what he stands for and what impact that will have on American, Europe and the rest of the world.

There are lots of laughs and reflections in this episode of the series of 'Golden Threads' podcasts from our Childhood, Youth and Families (CY&F) team. Just before he left University of Northampton, Robin Sturman-Coombs, then Senior Lecturer in Social Welfare, talked about his 12 year career at UON, in the Social Work team and, latterly, CY&F. Robin talks about how academics have influence as agents of social change, the things that have influenced his professional career and approach to teaching at UON and how these cross over to his personal life. Rob's love of being outdoors complements his professional sense of being curious about the big, wide world. Rob also introduces his doctoral research* about teaching intuitive cues to social work students (to publish early next year) and passes on advice for listeners wanting to go into research or higher education in social work or social welfare. Find out more about the courses Robin has represented - Social Work and Infant Mental Health and Wellbeing. *Rob will introduce his research at the next Café Scientiqifue event on Thursday 27 February. See UON's online shop for more and to reserve a seat.

With The Unsung Educators series of podcasts, we're amplifying the voices of the less well-known people in education – Teaching Assistants (TAs) – and the students and graduates of TA-related courses. This episode looks at one of our graduates – Hannah – who is now progressed from her courses that mean she is progressing in the career she loves, educating in the prison service. Listen in as Senior Lecturer in Education and The Unsung Educators host Adam Chapman talks about Hannah's journey in academia, when she was learning herself at the same time as helping others to learn. Hannah also discusses why she loves her job, the differences in teaching styles between schools and prisons and how the University has helped her achieve her professional ambitions. Hannah also passes on her top tips to people looking to follow in her footsteps by joining these UON courses.

Martin Perfect, UON's Director of Students Futures speaks about his journey to academic professional services and why that makes him the ideal person to help our students, and local businesses, get the most out of the University of Northampton.

In this podcast episode, Associate Professor Dr Alison Ward talks about her background in the arts and how she has combined this with her academic passion for dementia innovation and support. Dr Ward also discusses dementia interventions that she and the team at the University’s Dementia Research and Innovation Centre and their new research about how theatre can be used to enhance the bonds between people with a diagnosis young on-set dementia and their carers. This project has been delivered in collaboration with University of Derby. Dr Ward and the team will present their findings at a Knowledge Café at the Enterprise Centre in Derby on 18 September (9am-4pm) - all are welcome.

In this podcast hosted by UON's Jason Day, Associate Professor Dr Tracey Redwood talks about her research that has looked into how increasing daily steps taken by women experiencing the menopause can lead to better quality sleep. Dr Redwood is joined by Senior Lecturer in Advanced Nursing, Win Hughes, who was one of the research participants. They talk about what the research involved and its possible, wider implications. The full findings will be discussed at the University's next Café Scientifque event on Thursday 19 September from 17:00-18:30 at The Beehive in Northampton. Reserve a seat using the UON Shop link below. https://shop.northampton.ac.uk/product-catalogue/courses-trips/faculty-of-health-society/caf-scientifique-menopause-wellbeing-project-exploring-the-effects-of-moderate-exercise-on-sleep

Welcome to this podcast where I speak to Dr Patrice Seuwou, Associate Professor in Learning and Teaching, Deputy Head of Subject for Business Systems and Operations, and Director Centre for the Advancement of Racial Equality or CARE. I speak to him about the cultural, digital and pedagogical shock experienced by black international students, and despite changes to student dependency visas, how a UK degree is still seen as a highly prized qualification in other parts of the world.

For the latest in our series of podcasts about Teaching Assistants and thee value they bring to classrooms, we caught up with Foundation Degree in Learning and Teaching graduate Tom Judd. Tom talks with Senior Lecturer Adam Chapman about his time at UON - starting his course during the Covid pandemic - and how the University helped him achieve his professional dream of teaching physical education.

Professor in the History of Radicalism and Extremism Paul Jackson discusses his research within the field of the history and current dynamics of far and extreme right politics in Britain, as well as his experience as an expert witness in related court trials.

The Golden Threads podcasts ask what unites the teaching, learning and research of our Childhood, Youth and Families team. Telling their professional and personal journey to Golden Threads hosts Dr Helen Simmons and Robin Sturman-Coombs in this episode is Senior Lecturer in Education Candiece Spencer. Originally set to study a different degree, an inspirational talk at UON caused Candiece to take a new direction. Candiece talks about this and her MA dissertation that looked at the transition to primary school for children with a special educational need, becoming a more empathetic and compassionate person and practitioner, being a Formula 1 fan and chose her top books for listeners to read.

For the second episode of The Unsung Educators: TAs Speak Out!, we hear from two our our Foundation Degree in Learning and Teaching (FDLT) students, who amplify the voice of an important but sometimes unacknowledged brick of the education 'wall' - Teaching Assistants. Sam Lee has just finished the first year of his FDLT and is currently employed as a sports coach in the county. Helen McArdle has just finished her FDLT programme and will soon progress to UON's BA Teaching and Learning degree. Joined by their lecturer Adam Chapman, Sam and Helen talk about what led them to study FDLT at UON, a programme that allows them to continue their day jobs, how the course is helping them to grow personally and professionally and pass on their 'top tips' to help their peers and people considering taking the course. With a new Government in post, they also outline their 'wish list' for education ministers.

Second year Law student Lauren Knights is already pushing through the legal glass ceiling following an awards from the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn. We speak to her about why she's studying law and what the awards means to her.

With The Unsung Educators: TAs speak out podcasts, Senior Lecturer in Education Adam Chapman and his guests – academics and UON students and graduates – will discuss and explore the important role TAs (Teaching Assistants) play in the education of children and young people the length and breadth of the country. They will share their heartfelt anecdotes of being a TA and inspiring journeys as they balance the demands of work and study. For episode one, Adam talks with colleague and Senior Lecturer in Education Lucy Westley about how and why she got into education and for the teacher’s perspective on how a class works better with a Teaching Assistant in the room.

Senior Criminal Justice Lecture Abdul-Hye Miah talks about his 30-year-long career in the Met Police and how knowledge, understanding and working with communities is the only way to tackle hate crime and extremism.

The second episode in The Golden Threads series from our Childhood, Youth and Families team, where we get to know Peter Goy, Senior Lecturer in Education. Peter speaks with his colleagues Dr Helen Simmons and Robin Sturman-Coombs about how his family has influenced his career, his academic journey and his preferred research styles that have culminated in his Doctorate in Professional Practice.

Dr Katy-Louise Payne and Emma Gooding, Senior Lecturers in Learning Disability Nursing talk about their careers, developing the LD nurses of the future, their research into areas such as autism, and what the world would be like if there were no more LD Nurses. Please note, this episode was recorded before the announcement of the General Election.

From our campus food pantry, free breakfasts and sanitary products and a travel bursary, Project Manager Emma Stone, Katy Bradshaw from our Financial Guidance team, and Senior Student Communications Officer Emily Shears, explain what they do to ensure 'every little helps' at UON.

Win Hughes, Senior Lecturer in Advanced Nursing, talks about how a random conversation at a party inspired her to go into the nursing profession, why she feels it is rightly one of the most trusted of professions, issues and challenges at play in the profession, and how our Adult Nursing team goes out of the way to make applicants and students feel as welcomed and supported as possible.

Dr Anthony Stepniak discusses his PhD research, titled: "It's Time to Give this Wretched World the Queen it Deserves: Critically Tracking the Evolution of the Wicked Queen in Contemporary Narratives (1997-2017)".

Dr Emel Thomas – in conversation with her Childhood, Youth and Families colleagues Dr Helen Simmons and Robin Sturman-Coombs - reflects on her career journey to being an education academic at University of Northampton in the first of their ‘The Golden Threads’ podcasts. Dr Thomas, who is co-lead of the University’s Centre for the Advancement of Race Equality, discusses how she brings her teaching to life with examples of her own research and respecting diversity within and outside class. She also talks about the challenges of working in education and how to develop resilience.

As alternative ways of living become increasingly mainstream, how can LGBTQ+ venues maintain their status as safe spaces while still being welcoming to everyone. Claire Leer, UON's Senior Lecturer in Events Management and Tourism talks Senior Communications Officer Gavin Moore about her latest research.

Gail Forrester-Gale, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Health, Education and Society, talks about an event on Saturday 29 June geared towards continuous professional development. CPD Saturdays is a new initiative to support career enhancement for people in the health, education, social care/work, psychology and sociology sectors.

A number of academics and staff at the University of Northampton answer the question: 'What were the book(s) which 'made you'?

The Accessible Learning Foundation was launched in September last year by former Health Secretary Matt Hancock to support individuals with dyslexia. It was seen as a “beacon of hope” for those with the learning disorder. What does an academic think about this and special educational needs and inclusion? With plans for two new SENI/SEND schools in Northamptonshire, Dr Tereza Aidonopoulou-Reid also talks in this podcast about what’s needed to best support and understand children who have special educational needs and requirements.

We spoke with Bally Sandhu, Senior Lecturer in Children and Young People's Nursing, to hear first-hand about her varied career in this challenging but rewarding area of nursing. Bally talks about working with children and young people, as well as their families and carers, sometimes when the patient is seriously ill. Bally also discusses how she and her team prepare University of Northampton students to cope with sometimes challenging situations but still provide good care and some of the wider issues facing the nursing profession.

Jo Barrow, Senior Lecturer in Education, Childhood, Youth and Families talks about the importance of reading to your children, with personal reflections from her own experience as a mother and top tips to help parents and carers struggling to get their kids into books.

Dr Tanya Richardson, Senior Lecturer in Education, Childhood, Youth and Families at University of Northampton, talks about the importance of the first 1,000 days of our development, specifically speech and language development outside the classroom or nursery setting.

Welcome to this podcast where Gavin Moore, Senior Communications Officer at the University of Northampton speaks to recent MBA Graduate Berit Virtanen-Thewlis who has an inspirational story of life-long learning. 7dc18868148e6f4f9bfee1a181c6254b145109e5