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The Downtown Den Podcast. In conversation with the leading business personalities from the Downtown network.
Episodes
Friday Jan 20, 2023
Friday Jan 20, 2023
This series of the Downtown Den Podcast is all about Winning Women, in the second episode Downtown boss Frank McKenna speaks with the Leader of Manchester City Council Bev Craig.
Bev discusses her first twelve months as Leader of Manchester City Council, her vision for the future of Manchester, her passion for Manchester United and a little bit about her back story.
Follow Bev Craig on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bevcraig
Friday Jan 13, 2023
Friday Jan 13, 2023
In the first episode of the second series of the Downtown Den podcast, Frank McKenna speaks to Managing Director of Mansell Building Solutions, Angela Mansell.
Angela discusses her business journey, challenges in a male dominated sector, the way she has evolved the company and her passion for Greater Manchester and Manchester United Football Club.
To find out more information on Mansell Building Solutions visit https://www.mansellbuild.co.uk
Friday Dec 09, 2022
Friday Dec 09, 2022
In this episode, Downtown boss Frank McKenna chats with our Political Editor Jim Hancock as he takes us on a whirlwind tour of his career covering politics across the UK for over five decades.
Jim’s career took him from the pioneering Piccadilly radio in Manchester to the BBC, he’s interviewed several Prime Ministers from Margaret thatcher to Tony Blair, he’s covered numerous party conferences and despite his many years in the business of politics he still has the same enthusiasm for it as he did all those years ago.
In this episode Jim discusses:
- His initial interest in politics
- His foray into broadcasting
- The politicians who have impressed him most
- Why it is important for politics journalists to be party neutral
- The future of political journalism
Follow Jim on Twitter
Friday Dec 02, 2022
Friday Dec 02, 2022
The legendary Liverpool radio host and entertainer, Pete Price, needs little to no introduction. Known best for his late-night talk show on Liverpool radio station Radio City, his career has spanned 50 years in showbiz, with regular TV appearances and a bestselling autobiography ‘Pete Price – Name Dropper’.
Renowned for his larger-than-life personality, in this episode of the Downtown Den, Pete candidly discusses both the highlights and dark times from his life and the lessons he has learnt along the way. Sharing emotional anecdotes from his early life and career, we delve deep and discover how Pete Price became Pete Price.
Pete chats to Frank about:
- His childhood
- Work ethic
- Becoming a DJ and his first taste of showbiz
- Fighting his sexuality
- Acceptance
- Reinventing himself
- His late-night phone in show
- His father and the Sicilian Mafia
Follow Pete on Instragam:
https://www.instagram.com/petecityprice
Follow Pete on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PeteCityPrice
Friday Nov 25, 2022
Friday Nov 25, 2022
A political giant for more than five decades, the man who many believe to be ‘the best Prime Minister we never had’, Lord Michael Heseltine, joined DIB boss Frank McKenna in the Downtown Den this week.
‘Hezza’, also affectionately referred to as ‘Tarzan’ by Tory activists in the 1970s and 80s, has been at the forefront of public life since 1979 when he was given his first cabinet role by Margaret Thatcher as the Secretary of State for the Environment. He has also served as the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Trade & Industry, and Deputy Prime Minister.
A staunch advocate of the UK remaining in the European Union, Lord Heseltine is President of the European Movement.
Despite a general antagonism towards Conservative leaders and politicians, the city of Liverpool have made Heseltine an ‘adopted Scouser’, following his pivotal role in helping to regenerate the city in the early Eighties, when he was given the title ‘Minister for Merseyside’. He was made a Freeman of Liverpool in 2012 and he is still a regular visitor to the city.
In this wide-ranging conversation, the successful entrepreneur and politician discusses his role in Liverpool’s renaissance; his frustrations with Brexit; his time in government; and his vision for the future.
In this fascinating discussion, Lord Heseltine chats to Frank about:
- His role in the urban regeneration of Liverpool
- Devolution
- The overdominance of London
- Levelling Up
- Brexit and re-establishing EU relations
- His impressive political career
- Highs and lows of governments over the years
- Local government reorganisation
- His favourite Prime Minister
The European Movement https://www.europeanmovement.co.uk
Follow DIB here:
Friday Nov 18, 2022
Friday Nov 18, 2022
Long-serving chief executive at Warrington Borough Council, Vice Chairman of Rugby Super League Club Warrington Wolves, and early adopter and supporter of Downtown in Business, Prof. Steven Broomhead joins Downtown CEO Frank McKenna in the Downtown Den.
In this honest discussion, Steven reflects on his impressive career at the council, “delivering on the ground” and securing funding for regeneration and development schemes that have made a huge impact across the North West region. Furthermore, he gives his realistic insight into the future of local government and shares his passion for Warrington and his role at the Warrington Wolves.
DIB CEO Frank McKenna talks to Steven about:
- Devolution
- Abolishment of the Northwest Regional Development Agency
- Steven’s career at Warrington Borough Council
- Delivering on the ground
- Public private sector partnerships
- Council as community business
- The future of local government
- Skills agenda
- Model of governance debates across Northwest counties
- Warrington Wolves
To follow Steven on twitter, click here.
Find out more about Warrington Wolves here.
Follow DIB here:
LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Find out more about joining DIB here.
Friday Nov 04, 2022
Friday Nov 04, 2022
Chrissie Wolfe is an award-winning solicitor, entrepreneur, careers coach and business consultant who has been breaking the boundaries in the professional services sector.
Spending the first 7 and a half years of her career as a solicitor at a major law firm, in 2017 Chrissie launched her Youtube channel and brand Law and Broader as a way to improve accessibility to the profession for aspiring lawyers. She has since built up a major following of over 80,000 followers across her social media platforms and is a regular guest lecturer and speaker at national and global events.
Chrissie was also crowned ‘Woman of the Year 2019’ at our City of Birmingham Business Awards.
In this episode, Chrissie discusses:
- Being an ‘early adopter’ of social media
- Personal branding
- Building an online community
- Finding content that interests your audience
- Dealing with ‘trolls’
- Gen Z attitude to work and the ‘Great Resignation’
- Alternative models to traditional law and consulting
- Being a Commonwealth Games commentator
- The Birmingham Experience
Follow Chrissie n:
Instagram
YouTube
TikTok
LinkedIn
Twitter
Follow DIB here:
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Ed James is a self-proclaimed lover of people and their stories. Experiencing his first taste for radio at the age of 12, Ed now boasts over 20 years of experience as a Heart Radio presenter.
Born in Yorkshire, now an honorary Brummie and one of the city’s biggest ambassadors, he has a passion for all things Birmingham and its community spirit.
In this candid discussion, Ed opens up about how his optimism and enthusiasm was tested at dark times in his life, and how he managed to bounce back from tough times, inspiring him to write his book Be More Kid and co-founding the successful HDY Agency.
DIB boss Frank McKenna talks to Ed about:
- Optimism and work ethic
- Forging a career in radio
- Being an honorary Brummie
- Birmingham’s successful leadership
- Managing a work-life balance and family relationships
- Bankruptcy and bouncing back
- The beauty of hindsight
- Being more kid
- Finding the right fit for your business
To follow Ed on Instagram, click here.
To follow Ed on Twitter, click here.
To find out more about HDY Agency, click here.
Follow DIB here:
LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Find out more about joining DIB here.
Friday Oct 21, 2022
Friday Oct 21, 2022
Phil Neville may not be considered to be one of the most naturally gifted footballers of his time – but few would claim to have been more hard working and committed than a man who played for Manchester United and Everton Football Clubs.
Whilst at United, he won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and a Champions League. He won 59 caps for England, and he captained Everton for the bulk of his eight years at Goodison Park.
Phil moved into coaching and was appointed head coach of England women’s team in 2019, leading the ‘Lionesses’ to fourth place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
He now manages MLS team Inter Miami. He is also the co-owner of Salford City and the innovative Trafford-based University UA92.
In this fascinating conversation, Phil explains the huge influence his family have had on his career, shares his tips for team building, and lets the cat out of the bag in terms of his tattoo!
DIB boss Frank McKenna talks to Phil about:
-Miami and Becks
-Family values
-The culture of the club
-Sir Alex & Manchester United
-Leading by example
-People, Character, and Recruitment
-England
-Terry Venables
-Missing out of the World Cup
-The Lionesses
-Winning the treble
-Evertonians
-Politics
-Non-retirement plan
Listen and enjoy one of the most honest and open conversations we have had the privilege of hosting in the Downtown Den.
Follow DIB here:
LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Find out more about joining DIB here.
Friday Oct 14, 2022
Friday Oct 14, 2022
Victoria Brown set up her first business when she was just 17. She has gone on to become the owner of multiple businesses, including leading HR consultancy company HPC, award winning tech business oneHR, and property investment company Viridis.
In this fascinating insight into the thinking of an entrepreneurial mindset, Victoria takes us through her journey of teaching PT sessions in church halls, owning and eventually selling a hair and beauty salon, building a successful HR consultancy, launching an online brand, and striking the right work/life balance.
DIB boss Frank McKenna talks to Victoria about:
-Hair, Beauty, and Fitness
-HR
-Business Culture
-Building a Team, Building a Business
-Having a Business Coach and Accountability
-Selling a Business
-Social Media Influence
-Making a Difference
-Kids
-Learning to Live Dangerously
To find out more about the HPC and DIB partnership, click here.
To follow Victoria on Instagram, click here.
To follow Victoria on Twitter, click here.
To find out more about High Performance Consultancy, click here.
To find out more about oneHR, click here.
Follow DIB here:
LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
This episode was sponsored by Moore Media