In Difference

Sports clubs are becoming health hubs. It's all part of a growing movement to reach beyond the club boundaries and support communities in responding to their local health needs. But how does it work? On this episode, Colin Regan shares his insights from managing the Healthy Club Program at the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). We discuss the importance of place, identity and continually engaging with your club network to get to the bottom of what people really need. Our conversation reveals how this reimagined role for sports clubs will shape the future of health and wellbeing for local communities. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you go about disrupting the trafficking of illicit drugs into Europe? We've all seen the movies and TV series but what does it really take? On this episode of In Difference, I'm joined by Michael O'Sullivan, Director of the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (MAOC). MAOC is an international agency set up to act as a "one stop shop" to coordinate anti-drug trafficking action by several European Union states to intercept the import of drugs to the region. Michael shares his insights on how criminals first got interested in drug trafficking and how organised crime has changed over the past four decades. Our conversation highlights the importance of combined efforts and focus when tackling the global problem of dismantling organised crime groups. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

How are educators developing the mindset and skills needed for innovation? How about when we consider the unknown challenges that today's students will face far in the future? On this episode of In Difference, I have a conversation with Alan Morgan from the Innovation Academy at University College Dublin. Alan is an educational specialist and director of a program on creativity and innovation for educators. We discuss the growing calls for entrepreneurial education and the need for students to set their own learning agenda. Our conversation shines a light on the need for society to value project based learning and to reimagine what our education systems are all about. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do communities set the political agenda? And how do they make sure that local actions feed bigger global movements? On this episode of In Difference, I'm joined by Prof Inés Pousadela from CIVICUS, a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society around the world. Inés shares insights on how creating progress often begins with reframing situations and avoiding camouflage strategies by confronting issues head on. We also discuss the role of information and social media in supporting people to exchange their experiences and unite to address urgent local needs. Our conversations uncovers how social movements shape our society and ultimately change our perspective on what's possible. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

It can be hard to get ideas up and running. So how can people access funds for projects that can really make a difference? In this episode, Morgan Deane (CEO Baader Helvea and Angel Investor) shares his insights on how companies are using blockchain to build better business models around people who really care about what they're offering. Our conversation gets past the noise of cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin, looking at why and how Generation Z are moving to circular token economies. We uncover some of the drivers behind all of this and how now is the time for underrepresented entrepreneurs to lead responses to our biggest challenges. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do countries make progress when it comes to building affordable homes? All over the world, cities are tackling the fact that owning a house is increasingly beyond the means of most people. In this episode, Lorcan Sirr from Technological University Dublin shares insights from three decades of analysing housing and rental policy. Our conversation shines a light on the impact our houses have on our life, the factors driving house prices, and how to best shape policy in the future. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do cities need to consider when creating innovation districts? In this episode, Dr Carla Kayanan shares lessons on how city planners can balance the needs of local communities with the desire to compete in the global economy. Almost every city has allocated an area to replicate the success of Silicon Valley. In the pursuit of progress some important lessons have been learned. Our conversation uncovers how these insights are shaping urban planning and city life for decades to come. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you understand the needs of a city? And how do begin to solve some of the biggest challenges faced by the people that live there? In this episode, I'm joined by Bill Aulet and Corina Hanrahan. Bill is professor of entrepreneurship at MIT Sloan School of Management and author of Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Start Up. Corina is project manager at Limerick City and County Council and the appointed expert on the URBACT project 'Smart Cities and Communities' on climate change. Our conversation covers what the innovation process looks like and the need for entrepreneurial skills across all of society - not just in start ups. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes it takes a team to achieve certain things. But how do you build one from scratch? How about when that team needs to repeatedly do a very specialised job? In this episode, Dr David Langer shares insights on what it takes to create a team of world class neurosurgeons - all from zero and in a very competitive place. David is the chair of neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital and co-founder of Playback Health. Our conversation uncovers what really matters on high performance teams and what to do when there is no example to follow. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know that it can be difficult to deal with new challenges, but what do you do when the problem impacts the health of people around the world? In this episode, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove shares incredible insights from responses to global health emergencies such as SARS, MERS and COVID-19. Maria is a specialist in infectious disease epidemiology and the technical lead for COVID-19 at the World Health Organization (WHO). Maria shares lessons that go well beyond healthcare and offers huge hope for responding to a range of major events in the future. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing In Difference - the podcast series that uncovers how people create progress. Join me for conversations with experts at the top of their field as we chat about how they figure out what to focus on, if their approach is working, and what insights they've discovered along the way. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.