Episodes

  • The Ouseburn Story

    The Ouseburn Story
    Oct 2 2024
    John and Gordon talk to Dale Bolland about the Ouseburn and its transformation into the City's coolest district. Punk Rock, Workers Revolutionary Party and the Tunnel are all recalled.

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    47 mins
  • Professor George Marston, Universities, Sustainability and students

    Professor George Marston, Universities, Sustainability and students
    Aug 21 2024

    In this episode we talk to Professor George Marston, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Strategic Projects at Northumbria University.

    George works closely with the University Executive shaping and delivering the University’s Vision, Strategy. He is Chair of the University Sustainability Management Group which oversees the Environmental Management System and related activities and the University’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing Management Group. George discusses atmospheric chemistry, the University’s success in the sustainable league tables, campus development and the time he got stranded in Youngstown, Ohio. John also mentions how important squirrels (biodiverse campus environment) are in attracting impressionable students at open days.


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    40 mins
  • Tree sitting, Cradlewell Bypass and a brush with the law

    Tree sitting, Cradlewell Bypass and a brush with the law
    Jun 23 2024
    In this episode we talk to June, a teenage anti road demonstrator in the 1990s who also happens to be John's niece. The £12m Cradlewell bypass routed traffic through a tunnel to bypass a narrow pinch point at the end of the Coast Road into Newcastle. The protest invented the idea of tree sitting and delayed the project for a few months. June's arrest and it's subsequent impacts on her career are explored. John wonders whether June has changed her views, well have a listen!

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    30 mins
  • Nick Huston talks domestic heat pumps

    Nick Huston talks domestic heat pumps
    Jun 14 2024
    John and Gordon talk to Nick Huston of Daikin (Future Energy Business Manager). Nick tells us about some of the early domestic heat pumps projects he was involved in and we discuss how the future might play out over the next few years. Economics of current heat pumps are explored and contrasted to historical cases (1950s). Nick also lets us know about the "Tesla charge point races" playing out on our roads

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    29 mins
  • Professor Ruth Dalton measuring joy and the Revai G-Whiz

    Professor Ruth Dalton measuring joy and the Revai G-Whiz
    Feb 6 2024
    We discuss sustainable design and architecture with Professor Ruth Dalton. Covering her early experience of the importance of sustainability in the 1980s architecture school, her favourite local building and some aspects of design that could be added to sustainable assessment of buildings. Ruth also tells us of her experience with that 1990s London favourite the Revai G Whiz. It works in London but not so much in Milton Keynes. Oh, I should say it contains some mild swearing.

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    31 mins
  • Louise Allen, Spark at the Helix

    Louise Allen, Spark at the Helix
    Jan 22 2024
    Louise talks about running Central Square and her new role at the Spark Building. How to create a sense of place in the building and its occupants. She also lets us know about her first car and the informal DJ at the Spark

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    24 mins
  • More thoughts from Peter Rolton

    More thoughts from Peter Rolton
    Dec 2 2023

    We continue our conversation with Peter Rolton, covering batteries, starting up the Rolton Group, cars and Gary Neville’s zero carbon testimonial. 


    Some local north east flavour in this podcast including “gubby” jobs and Claude Gibb Hall.   Peter also tells us about being chairman of Gary Neville’s zero carbon testimonial team.  


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    19 mins
  • Peter Rolton reflects on student days and BREEAM

    Peter Rolton reflects on student days and BREEAM
    Nov 9 2023
    In this episode we chat with Peter Rolton, chairman of the Rolton Group. Peter and Gordon have something in common, both studied Building Services Engineering at Newcastle Polytechnic ( now Northumbria University) in there early 80s, so there is some reflection on that period. We talk to Peter about the influence of BREEAM , the maturing debate about sustainability, the stop start nature of the UK Government's legislation in this area and Peter’s role as a government advisor 2006- 2010.

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    14 mins