A South Coast DTP podcast

Speaking of Research

PhD researchers, and the people their work is for, in conversation with Catherine McDonald.
Latest episode

AI Tutors and Learning in Primary Schools

Nick Huxley, University of Brighton with Hollie Benfield, Knockhall Primary School
Series 3, Episode 3 · 28 min
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Series 3In Dialogue with Stakeholders

Researchers sit down with the community partners, practitioners and lived-experience advocates who shape their work. On video and audio.
3 episodes · Oct 2026
Episode 3 · 28 min

AI Tutors and Learning in Primary Schools

Nick Huxley, University of Brighton with Hollie Benfield, Knockhall Primary School
Nick Huxley and Deputy Head Hollie Benfield on using AI safely in primary schools: teacher training, safeguarding, teaching children about AI, and how AI tutors can support learning without replacing teachers.
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Episode 2 · 29 min

Building Digital Communities and Challenging Systemic Barriers for Migrant Women

Patricia Ncube, University of Portsmouth with Bev Price, community advocate
Patricia Ncube and Bev Price on migrant women taking ownership of their stories online, why Patricia moved from interviews to digital spaces, and questioning the barriers rather than celebrating resilience.
Spotify Building Digital Communities and Challenging Systemic Barriers for Migrant WomenApple Building Digital Communities and Challenging Systemic Barriers for Migrant WomenAmazon Building Digital Communities and Challenging Systemic Barriers for Migrant WomenTranscript Building Digital Communities and Challenging Systemic Barriers for Migrant Women
Episode 1 · 41 min

Making Blue Spaces More Inclusive for People with Visual Impairments

Sadie Rockliffe, University of Brighton with Melanie Barratt, double Paralympic champion swimmer
Sadie Rockliffe and Melanie Barratt on making open water accessible for blind and partially sighted swimmers, and Gateway to the Sea, the event they co-created with British Blind Sport, SwimTrek, Sea Lanes and Red Equipment.
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Episodes 4 and 5 of this series are on the way. Subscribe on YouTube

Series 2Global Challenges

Short conversations on policy, sustainability and social equity, and what social science can do about them.
10 episodes · Nov 2025 to Feb 2026
Episode 8 · 9 min

Law, Violence and LGBTQ+ Rights in Brazil

Ramon Almeida, University of Southampton
Violence against LGBTQ+ people in Brazil since homophobia and transphobia were criminalised in 2019, based on 33 interviews in Salvador, and why NGOs often support victims better than the state.
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Series 1Research with Impact

Where it started: recorded at Cumberland Lodge, introducing researchers from across the partnership.
10 episodes · May 2025 to Jul 2025
Episode 10 · 10 min

Drones at the Border: Search, Rescue and Surveillance in the English Channel

Toby Meredith, University of Portsmouth
Drones in English Channel search and rescue and border surveillance, and what that means for asylum seekers and refugees.
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Episode 9 · 11 min

Resilience and Exclusion: The International Student Experience in the UK

Isaac Thornton, University of Brighton
International students in the UK: how visas, housing and fees can lead to exclusion, and resilience as something communities build rather than a personal trait.
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Episode 8 · 9 min

Reimagining Belonging: Co-Research with Young People with Profound Disabilities

Elspeth Clark, University of Southampton
Belonging and meaningful occupation for young people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities, using sensory and embodied research methods in a special school.
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Episode 7 · 7 min

Framing Taiwan: British Foreign Policy and the Legacy of Empire

Max Dixon, University of Portsmouth
British foreign policy towards Taiwan since 1996, and how parliamentary language and colonial history shape the UK's stance.
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Episode 6 · 5 min

The Human Cost of Fire: Exploring the Roots of Deliberate Fire Setting

Charlotte Booker, University of Portsmouth
Why people set fires deliberately (around half of fires in England, costing about £1.3bn a year) and how better understanding could improve prevention.
Spotify The Human Cost of Fire: Exploring the Roots of Deliberate Fire SettingApple The Human Cost of Fire: Exploring the Roots of Deliberate Fire SettingAmazon The Human Cost of Fire: Exploring the Roots of Deliberate Fire SettingTranscript The Human Cost of Fire: Exploring the Roots of Deliberate Fire Setting
Episode 5 · 8 min

Communicating Pension Policy: Addressing Disadvantages for Women Born in the 1950s

Yifan Ge, University of Southampton
How raising the state pension age affected women born in the 1950s, using administrative data to find who was hit hardest.
Spotify Communicating Pension Policy: Addressing Disadvantages for Women Born in the 1950sApple Communicating Pension Policy: Addressing Disadvantages for Women Born in the 1950sAmazon Communicating Pension Policy: Addressing Disadvantages for Women Born in the 1950sTranscript Communicating Pension Policy: Addressing Disadvantages for Women Born in the 1950s
Episode 4 · 9 min

From Testimony to Toolkit: Creating Change for Exploited Care Workers

Kezia Pugh, University of Brighton
Labour exploitation of migrant care workers in UK social care, and the role of community groups, campaigners and unions in pushing back.
Spotify From Testimony to Toolkit: Creating Change for Exploited Care WorkersApple From Testimony to Toolkit: Creating Change for Exploited Care WorkersAmazon From Testimony to Toolkit: Creating Change for Exploited Care WorkersTranscript From Testimony to Toolkit: Creating Change for Exploited Care Workers
Episode 3 · 9 min

Unpacking Inequality: Trans Autistic Voices in Health and Social Care

Katie Munday, University of Portsmouth
Healthcare inequities for trans and autistic people, researched with a group of trans and autistic co-researchers.
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Episode 2 · 11 min

Net Zero Meets Nostalgia: Decarbonising the Heritage Sector

Nishit Srivastava, University of Portsmouth
Decarbonising historic buildings and the heritage sector on the way to Net Zero, using Cumberland Lodge as an example.
Spotify Net Zero Meets Nostalgia: Decarbonising the Heritage SectorApple Net Zero Meets Nostalgia: Decarbonising the Heritage SectorAmazon Net Zero Meets Nostalgia: Decarbonising the Heritage SectorTranscript Net Zero Meets Nostalgia: Decarbonising the Heritage Sector
Episode 1 · 8 min

Research in Motion: Making Blue Spaces Accessible for All

Sadie Rockliffe, University of Brighton
Access to rivers, lakes and the sea for people with visual impairments, using swim-along interviews.
Spotify Research in Motion: Making Blue Spaces Accessible for AllApple Research in Motion: Making Blue Spaces Accessible for AllAmazon Research in Motion: Making Blue Spaces Accessible for AllTranscript Research in Motion: Making Blue Spaces Accessible for All

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Every researcher on Speaking of Research is an SCDTP doctoral researcher. We fund and train social science PhDs across Southampton, Brighton, Portsmouth and Chichester.
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