Inspiring conversations with thought leaders.
CEF’s podcast ‘InsideEvents’ invites inspiring people and thought leaders to talk about hot topics; cutting-edge research and science; share stories of success and failure; and interrogate some of the pressing issues and biggest challenges we face across the event and festival industry.
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Glastonbury is famous for its iconic music, mud-soaked fields, and festival spirit—but could it also be a blueprint for surviving the climate crisis? In this episode, Dr Mike Duignan talks with climate scientist Dr Richard Betts about how major festivals like Glastonbury are becoming microcosms of our global environmental challenges. From renewable energy and green transport to heat adaptation and eco-activism, festivals are experimenting with real-world climate solutions. Together, they unpack whether these spaces of joy and escape can also drive serious environmental change. Are audiences and organisers doing enough? Should ticketing come with a green travel contract? And what can cities learn from Glastonbury’s sustainability model? Tune in for a thought-provoking look at the future of events in a warming world—and why “edutainment” might be our best bet yet.
Sustainability | Climate Change | Resilience | Behaviour Change
Guest: Dr Richard Betts MBE, University of Exeter (UK)
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London 2012 promised to be a game-changer for disability rights. But over a decade on, how much really changed? In this episode, Dr Mike Duignan is joined by Dr Verity Postlethwaite to critically examine the legacy of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. While the event broke new ground in integrating Olympic and Paralympic agendas and spotlighted elite parasport, many disabled people argue that everyday barriers remain—if not worsened. Verity unpacks the social model of disability, the role of government austerity, and why meaningful change depends on more than visibility. Together, they explore how event planning, policy, and community engagement must evolve to better serve disabled populations beyond sport. If you're interested in how mega-events promise—and often fail—to deliver social impact, this is a must-listen. Discover what London 2012 got right, what it missed, and what’s needed to make legacy more than just a buzzword.
Legacy | Inequality | Social Model | Participation
Guest: Dr Verity Postlethwaite, Loughborough University (UK)
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What turns a vibrant crowd into a deadly one—and how can we stop it from happening again? In this episode, Dr Mike Duignan speaks with crowd safety expert Dr Alison Hutton to unpack some of the most devastating crowd disasters, including Astroworld and the Love Parade. Through the lens of “cooperative crowding,” Alison explores how shared responsibility, environmental design, and real-time coordination can transform chaos into calm. Drawing on decades of experience in health, festivals, and emergency planning, she challenges the siloed thinking that undermines safety, and calls for new risk frameworks and stronger communication between organisers, medics, performers, and security. This conversation is essential for anyone working in events and festivals—where getting safety right isn’t just a legal duty, it’s a moral one. Learn how crowd psychology, pre-event planning, and creative risk management can help protect lives without crushing the spirit that makes live events so electrifying.
Risk Prevention | Crowd Behaviour | Integrated Planning
Guest: Dr Alison Hutton, Western Sydney University (Australia)
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When most people think of Pride, they picture city parades, big-name sponsors, and rainbow-soaked streets. But a quieter revolution is unfolding across the rural US—from Pikeville, Kentucky to small towns in Arizona—where LGBTQ+ communities are claiming space, visibility, and belonging in powerful ways. In this episode, Dr Michael Duignan speaks with Dr Beck Banks, whose research explores the rise and impact of small-town Pride festivals. Together, they uncover how these grassroots gatherings challenge metronormativity, resist far-right hostility, and build lasting community infrastructure—from youth programs to food drives. With stories of drag, danger, and deep resilience, Beck shows how rural prides disrupt tired stereotypes and remind us that queer life exists—and thrives—far beyond city limits. This conversation is a celebration of queer courage in unexpected places and a call to action for allies, funders, and organisers to support LGBTQ+ communities where they’re most overlooked, yet most needed.
Visibility | Metronormativity | Belonging | Community-Building
Guest: Dr Beck Banks, Warren Wilson College (USA)
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The Paralympics are often praised for inspiring a generation, but does watching elite athletes with disabilities actually get more people moving? In this episode, Dr Mike Duignan speaks with Dr. Chris Brown to unpack the complex realities behind this popular narrative. Drawing on a decade of research, they explore whether the demonstration and festival effects really drive participation, or whether deeper systemic and social barriers remain unaddressed. From the legacy of London 2012 to the superhuman stereotype and the growing influence of cyborgification in Paralympic sport, they tackle tough questions around inclusion, representation, and impact. Dr. Brown calls for tailored approaches, cross-sector collaboration, and treating the Games as a catalyst—not a cure. This is essential listening for sport developers, policymakers, and event organisers who want to do more than just celebrate difference—they want to enable it.
Participation | Leveraging | Empowerment | Representation | Inclusion
Guest: Dr Chris Brown, University of Hertfordshire (UK)