Urban Radar is a podcast series brought to you by Sheffield Urbanism, which reflects on current events and emerging trends through the lens of cities and urban life. Drawing on the unique range of expertise in the Faculty of Social Science at the University of Sheffield, UK, we place urban dynamics at the centre of contemporary global affairs.
Sheffield Urbanism is a joint initiative led by the Urban Institute and School of Geography & Planning at the University of Sheffield.
Credits:
Podcast production, presentation & editing: Tom Goodfellow & Beth Perry
Distribution, promotion & marketing: Riya Singh & Vicky Simpson
Music: Horizon (music by Tom Goodfellow, produced by Alan Thomson); Falling Down (music by Tom Goodfellow, performed by the Dice, produced by Alan Thomson); Ghosts (music by the Dice; produced by Alan Thompson); Kilimanjaro (music by Tom Goodfellow, produced by Alan Thompson).
Supported by the Faculty of Social Science at the University of Sheffield
Thanks to the Creative Media Suite at University of Sheffield.
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In this trailer, we set out the background to Urban Radar, the format of the show and the main questions that we will explore.
Urban Radar is a podcast series which reflects on current events and emerging trends through the lens of cities and urban life. It is brought to you by Sheffield Urbanism, a community of urban researchers in the Faculty of Social Science at the University of Sheffield, UK.
Urban Radar places urban dynamics at the centre of contemporary global affairs. In each episode we scan the news to bring unique urban perspectives into the issues that shape our world. We will invite members of our research community to provide evidence-based informed insights into the ways that cities and urban communities are impacted by, driving and responding to current events.
We will also include special features that profile cutting-edge research and analysis happening within and beyond the Sheffield Urbanism community. These link to the overarching questions we will explore in the podcast, including:
How can urban research help to build solidarity and a sense of belonging in the face of rising individualism, consumerism, and capital accumulation?
How can we foster place-based innovation to harness technological developments as tools to address inequalities between different groups within and across urban areas?
What potential does urban political mobilisation have to transform power relations in a world characterised by authoritarianism and oligarchy? And what are its limits?
Whose knowledge and expertise - human, non-human and artificial - gets to determine the way we live together in urban space?
How can and do urban communities re-imagine cities as spaces of environmental justice and sustainable inhabitation?
Join us each month as we attempt to decode some of the events and issues on our urban radar - and if you want to know more, follow Sheffield Urbanism on LinkedIn and Bluesky.
CREDITS:
Podcast production, presentation and editing: Tom Goodfellow and Beth Perry
Post-production editing and marketing: Polly Clifton
Training and production support: Jack Clayton
Distribution, promotion and marketing: Riya Singh and Vicky Simpson
Music: Horizon (original music by Tom Goodfellow, recorded and produced by Alan Thomson)
Podcast Cover: Dan Farley Designs
Hosts:
Tom Goodfellow is Professor of Urban Studies and International Development in the School of Geography and Planning at the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on the political economy of urban development and change in Africa, particularly the politics of urban land and transportation, conflicts around infrastructure and housing, and urban institutional change.
Beth Perry is Professor of Urban Epistemics and Director of the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the relationships between urban expertise, governance and justice, underpinned by a commitment to co-producing collective intelligence across multiple scales to address complex urban challenges. She has worked in cities in Africa, Europe and the UK.
Email feedback to: UrbanRadar-group@sheffield.ac.uk
Thanks to the Faculty of Social Science at the University of Sheffield for funding this podcast and the Creative Media Suite for recording facilities.
Episode 1: CITIES & CLIMATE CHANGE (+ human rights for mountains, + foreign aid cuts and more)
Season 1 · Episode 1
Tuesday, February 18, 2025 • Duration 53:43
On this month's Urban Radar, Beth & Tom zoom in on:
Why recognising the rights of a New Zealand mountain is an urban issue
Conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and its impacts on the city of Goma
How cutting US international development funding will impact cities
Whether ‘more-than-schools’ can offer community level responses to the crisis in young people and children’s mental health
Waste tipping in Litchfield, UK
And in our Special Feature (24:20) on Cities and Climate Change, they are joined by Vanesa Castán Broto and David Dodman, two external authors of the UN-Habitat World Cities Report to discuss:
What role do cities and local governments have in addressing climate change?Which communities are impacted most by climate change? What is a just transition? How do formal and informal systems at local, national and international levels support or hinder low carbon action?
Guests:
Vanesa Castán Broto is Professor of Climate Urbanism at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the governance of global environmental change in an age of urbanization. She leads the JustGESI project which aims to advance equality and inclusion in community energy projects and policy frameworks, by addressing the skills gaps that have historically kept women and marginalised groups out of the clean energy economy.
David Dodman is the General Director at The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, a key global institution on education, research and policy work on urban development since its foundation 65 years ago. He has worked on sustainable urban development research in universities and research institutes for the past 20 years. His research interests focus on urban climate change resilience and informality.
Guest editor:
Linda Westman is a Senior Research Fellow at the Urban Institute. Her research revolves around environmental politics, with a focus on urban climate governance, transformations, and justice. She leads a European Research Council project on just transitions in the context of environmental politics in China.
Episode 2: MANCHESTER'S DEVELOPMENT MODEL (+ German elections, + UK local government reform, and more)
Season 1
Thursday, March 6, 2025 • Duration 40:26
In this month's feature (21:09), Tom & Beth turn their attention to Manchester’s model of property-led development. As the UK government pins hopes on enabling greater private sector investment to boost economic growth, can the 'Manchester model' deliver the expected outcomes? They are joined by Adam Leaver and Richard Goulding to discuss their new report, co-authored with Jon Silver, on the "Centripetal City: A Critique of Supply-Side Urban Development".
In our wrap-up of what’s on our radar (01:49) we also cover:
What fatbergs and sinkholes tell us about the urban underground
How Artificial Intelligence might affect urban culture
The spatial implications of UK cuts to aid to finance defence spending
And, with Madeleine Pill, we dive (08:23) into the urban dimensions of the German elections and the governance questions that sit behind current concern about local government finances in England.
Guests:
Madeleine Pill is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Geography & Planning. Her work takes a critical approach to the theory and practice of governance and policy at the urban/ local/ neighbourhood scales.
Richard Goulding is a Lecturer at the Management School. His interests lie in the interaction between finance, social reproduction and urban space, exploring how these combine to shape housing geographies.
Episode 3: CITIES & AUTHORITARIANISM (+ addressing urban air pollution, + cities and the UK asylum crisis, and more)
Season 1
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 • Duration 56:36
This month’s special feature focuses on the rise of authoritarianism in cities (34:48). What are the strategies and tactics that authoritarian regimes might use to control their capital cities? Beth and Tom are joined by David Jackman to discuss the insights provided in his edited book with Tom, as well as a discussion of urban political dynamics in Bangladesh - the subject of David's other new book.
With Miguel Kanai and Hannah Lewis, they dive into urban interventions to address air pollution (13:17) and discuss the UK’s hostile asylum regime and how Cities of Sanctuary can help (22:59).
Also on our radar (2:51):
Looming war in the Horn of Africa, and the role of cities and towns
AI facial scanning technologies in Sheffield, and its potential risks
Student protests in Serbia and their link to major urban investments
The challenges of urban infrastructure - from water shortages to potholes in Johannesburg and UK cities
Tune in now for a jam-packed informative episode brought to you by Sheffield Urbanism.
Guests:
Miguel Kanai is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Geography and Planning. His work examines the urbanisation of the world under contemporary globalised capitalism and implications for communities in the Global South.
Hannah Lewis is a Senior Lecturer in Sociological Studies. Her recent work has explored how the social and legal status of migrants can create lasting insecurities and vulnerabilities to poverty and social exclusion.
David Jackman is a Lecturer in Development Studies at the Oxford Department of International Development (ODID). His recent book ‘Syndicates and Societies’ explores life in Kawran Bazar, in Dhaka, and offers a new approach to understanding the nexus of urban life, crime and politics.
Episode 4: BATS, BUILDINGS & BIG IDEAS (+ local action on water, + the urban impacts of tariff wars, and more...)
Season 1 · Episode 4
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 • Duration 01:12:26
In this month's bumper episode we are joined by Malcolm Tait, Kiera Chapman and Hugh Ellis for a feature (45:13) on the UK government's planning reforms, how we can save nature and whether we need more utopian thinking to engage citizens in planning for sustainable communities.
With Liz Sharp and Antonio Navas, Tom and Beth also dive into the local impacts of the UK's water crisis (20:35) and the urban impacts of tariff wars (33:37).
Also on our radar (3:15):
How levels of urbanization impact on Myanmar's earthquake resilience, and man-made factors shaping urban crisis
Paris city hall's anti-tagging campaign, and the implications for graffiti and protest art in urban public space
Does Gen Z struggle to pick up the phone? The importance of communication amongst strangers to city life
The potential impacts of closing embassies in cities abroad on diplomatic relations globally
Guests:
Liz Sharp is a Professor of Water and Planning in the School of Geography and Planning. She is an environmental social scientist whose work supports practical interventions related to water supply, waste and flooding.
Antonio Navas is a Lecturer in the School of Economics. His work focuses on international trade, foreign direct investment and technology adoption.
Malcolm Tait is Professor of Planning in the School of Geography and Planning. He leads the Planning for Nature project, and is interested in how planning relates to ecology, housing, and urban renewal.
Hugh Ellis is the Director of Policy for the and Honorary Professor of Utopian Studies () at the University of Sheffield.
Radar 5: POWER & THE POPE (+ Gaza urbicide, gambling cities & more)
Season 1
Thursday, May 29, 2025 • Duration 54:20
In this month’s Radar, we dive into the issue of community power - the energy kind! - with Dr Jayne Carrick (22:28), before discussing how a new pope (or an AI confession box!) will alter relations between religion, faith and the city with Dr Krzysztof Nawratek (35:26). On our urban radar (02:41) we also consider:
The UK government’s Immigration White Paper and the ‘local impacts’ of international student recruitment
Race and space in Trump’s welcoming of white South African ‘refugees’
Urbicide in Gaza and its historical antecedents
Gambling and its urban discontents
The urban impacts of deconcentrating central government departments outside London
Krzysztof Nawratek is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Landscape, and UI Associate. His Future Faith(s) project looks at religions, spaces & innovations in the city, building on work in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Feature 5: POWERING THE NORTH - A conversation with Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram
Season 1
Monday, June 16, 2025 • Duration 01:07:28
In this first stand-alone feature, Tom and Beth introduce an uncut conversation with Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram - the Mayors of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region in the North of England, recorded at Sheffield's Festival of Debate.
The conversation was chaired by Beth at the Octagon Theatre, and focussed on Andy and Steve's 10-point plan for a fairer, more equal Britain, set out in their book Head North: A Rallying Cry for a More Equal Britain(2024). In the discussion, they reveal how their time spent as MPs in Westminster convinced them that devolution is the answer to a fairer future and a balancing of power and resources.
The feature starts at 5:22 and is followed by a short analysis from Tom and Beth reflecting on whether the German model of federalism does hold the answers to addressing regional inequalities in England, the differences between de-concentration, decentralisation and devolution, and the wider role of the 'Global North' in addressing world-wide inequalities.
Speakers:
Andy Burnham was elected Mayor of Greater Manchester in May 2017, and was re-elected for a second term in May 2021 to chair the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Prior to this, Andy was MP for Leigh from 2001. In Government, Andy has held Ministerial positions at the Home Office, Department of Health and the Treasury. In 2008 he became Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, where he met Steve.
Steve Rotheram was elected metro-mayor of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in May 2017 and was re-elected in May 2024. Steve held the ceremonial title of Lord Mayor of Liverpool during the city’s European Capital of Culture year. He then served as Labour MP for Liverpool Walton from 2010 to 2017, where he led campaigns for justice for the Hillsborough families.
Radar 6: HOUSING SAFETY, TRANS RIGHTS & THE CITY (+ Bunkers, AI protest & more)
Season 1
Friday, June 27, 2025 • Duration 59:51
In this month’s episode, we are joined by Jenny Preece to dive into the issue of building safety in the context of the recent anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire (22:33). Next, we consider trans rights in the context of Pride month and the impact of the UK’s recent Supreme Court ruling (38:40).
Also on our radar:
Bunkers and new forms of subterranean exclusion
Urban festivals
Touristification and the commodification of cities
The LA riots and urban stigma
AI propaganda and AI protest
Vape fires and the disposable vape ban
Dr. Jenny Preece is a Lecturer in the School of Geography and Planning at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on understanding housing choices and aspirations, particularly in changing contexts and with relevance to issues of constraint and exclusion. I am interested in people's lived experiences of home, and how people experience change, whether in the dwelling itself or the wider neighbourhood.
SJ Cooper-Knock is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations and School of Law at the University of Sheffield. Their work focuses on the politics of urban life in South Africa, including everyday policing and punishment; being and belonging in the city; the politics of crisis; and concepts of urban justice.
Feature 6: CYBORG RIGHTS & THE CITY? A conversation on tech & urbanism with Simon Marvin & Allan McCay
Season 1
Tuesday, July 15, 2025 • Duration 47:21
In this month's special feature, Tom and Beth are joined by Simon Marvin and Allan McCay to discuss how advances in neurotechnology - specifically Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) - are changing the way we think about urban infrastructures and human-technology relations in the city.
We discuss:
How can we understand the complex and continuously changing relationship between cities and technology over the last few decades?
What and where are the new frontiers of urban technology in light of neuro-technological advances, such as Brain Computer Interfaces?
What are the legal and ethical implications for cities and residents of neurotechnological urbanism, and can science fiction prepare us for what’s to come?
Dr Allan McCay is Co Director of The Sydney Institute of Criminology and an Academic Fellow at the University of Sydney Law School. His first coedited book is Free Will and the Law: New Perspectives (Routledge, 2019) and his second is Neurointerventions and the Law: Regulating Human Mental Capacity (Oxford University Press, 2020).
Radar 7: URBAN POLITICS OF TRUTH AND WEALTH (+ AI data centres, +extreme heat and more)
Season 1
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 • Duration 01:12:36
In this episode we are joined by Dr Katie Pruszynski and Professor Rowland Atkinson to explore how political and wealth elites are reshaping cities from New York to London and beyond. We dive into Zohran Mamdani's journey to becoming the Democratic Party's nominee for Mayor of New York City (25:10) and the pros and cons of increasing tax on the super-rich (47:26), through an urban political tour of truth and wealth.
Also on our radar:
The loss of pubs & representations of young people's urban lifestyles
AI data centres & their potential in low income neighbourhoods
The past & future of pickpocketing
Ukrainian cities in reconstruction & resistance
The urban impacts of extreme heat
Celebrities & urban development
Guests:
Dr Katie Pruszynski is a PhD graduate in Political Psychology from the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations at the University of Sheffield. She has written on Donald Trump's 'wedge lies' and the new American oligarchy.
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Tom Goodfellow is Professor of Urban Studies and International Development in the School of Geography and Planning at the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on the political economy of urban development and change in Africa, particularly the politics of urban land and transportation, conflicts around infrastructure and housing, and urban institutional change.
Beth Perry is Professor of Urban Epistemics and Director of the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the relationships between urban expertise, governance and justice, underpinned by a commitment to co-producing collective intelligence across multiple scales to address complex urban challenges. She has worked in cities in Africa, Europe and the UK.
Tom Goodfellow is Professor of Urban Studies and International Development in the School of Geography and Planning at the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on the political economy of urban development and change in Africa, particularly the politics of urban land and transportation, conflicts around infrastructure and housing, and urban institutional change.
Beth Perry is Professor of Urban Epistemics and Director of the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the relationships between urban expertise, governance and justice, underpinned by a commitment to co-producing collective intelligence across multiple scales to address complex urban challenges. She has worked in cities in Africa, Europe and the UK.
Tom Goodfellow is Professor of Urban Studies and International Development in the School of Geography and Planning at the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on the political economy of urban development and change in Africa, particularly the politics of urban land and transportation, conflicts around infrastructure and housing, and urban institutional change.
Beth Perry is Professor of Urban Epistemics and Director of the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the relationships between urban expertise, governance and justice, underpinned by a commitment to co-producing collective intelligence across multiple scales to address complex urban challenges. She has worked in cities in Africa, Europe and the UK.
Kiera Chapman is an author and Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. She was lead author on the Lost Nature report for Wild Justice.
Hosts:
Tom Goodfellow is Professor of Urban Studies and International Development in the School of Geography and Planning at the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on the political economy of urban development and change in Africa, particularly the politics of urban land and transportation, conflicts around infrastructure and housing, and urban institutional change.
Beth Perry is Professor of Urban Epistemics and Director of the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the relationships between urban expertise, governance and justice, underpinned by a commitment to co-producing collective intelligence across multiple scales to address complex urban challenges. She has worked in cities in Africa, Europe and the UK.
Tom Goodfellow is Professor of Urban Studies and International Development in the School of Geography and Planning at the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on the political economy of urban development and change in Africa, particularly the politics of urban land and transportation, conflicts around infrastructure and housing, and urban institutional change.
Beth Perry is Professor of Urban Epistemics and Director of the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the relationships between urban expertise, governance and justice, underpinned by a commitment to co-producing collective intelligence across multiple scales to address complex urban challenges. She has worked in cities in Africa, Europe and the UK.
Email feedback to: UrbanRadar-group@sheffield.ac.uk
Thanks to the Faculty of Social Science at the University of Sheffield for funding this podcast and the Creative Media Suite for recording facilities.
Credits:
Thanks to Festival of Debate for hosting the conversation and to festival organisers, Opus Independents, for the opportunity.
Hosts:
Tom Goodfellow is Professor of Urban Studies and International Development in the School of Geography and Planning at the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on the political economy of urban development and change in Africa, particularly the politics of urban land and transportation, conflicts around infrastructure and housing, and urban institutional change.
Beth Perry is Professor of Urban Epistemics and Director of the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the relationships between urban expertise, governance and justice, underpinned by a commitment to co-producing collective intelligence across multiple scales to address complex urban challenges. She has worked in cities in Africa, Europe and the UK.
Tom Goodfellow is Professor of Urban Studies and International Development in the School of Geography and Planning at the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on the political economy of urban development and change in Africa, particularly the politics of urban land and transportation, conflicts around infrastructure and housing, and urban institutional change.
Beth Perry is Professor of Urban Epistemics and Director of the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the relationships between urban expertise, governance and justice, underpinned by a commitment to co-producing collective intelligence across multiple scales to address complex urban challenges. She has worked in cities in Africa, Europe and the UK.
Tom Goodfellow is Professor of Urban Studies and International Development in the School of Geography and Planning at the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on the political economy of urban development and change in Africa, particularly the politics of urban land and transportation, conflicts around infrastructure and housing, and urban institutional change.
Beth Perry is Professor of Urban Epistemics and Director of the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the relationships between urban expertise, governance and justice, underpinned by a commitment to co-producing collective intelligence across multiple scales to address complex urban challenges. She has worked in cities in Africa, Europe and the UK.
Tom Goodfellow is Professor of Urban Studies and International Development in the School of Geography and Planning at the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on the political economy of urban development and change in Africa, particularly the politics of urban land and transportation, conflicts around infrastructure and housing, and urban institutional change.
Beth Perry is Professor of Urban Epistemics and Director of the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the relationships between urban expertise, governance and justice, underpinned by a commitment to co-producing collective intelligence across multiple scales to address complex urban challenges. She has worked in cities in Africa, Europe and the UK.
