We Built This City: Greater Manchester: Recent Episodes
Roland Dransfield
Incredible conversations with the Mancunians - born, bred and adopted - who put the heart into Modern Manchester.
We Built This City focuses on how these extraordinary Mancunians have built something that impacts lives and the purposeful relationships that have helped steer them, the values that have driven them to do it, and the legacies they plan to leave behind.
Celebrate human grit, determination, loyalty, and diversity across culture, arts, politics, sport, music and business.
Lisa Morton interviews Mancunian icons like Andy Burnham, John Thomson, Gary Neville, Sacha Lord, Stacey Copeland, Clint Boon, Sir Richard Leese, Diane Modahl MBE, Ged King, Chris Brindley MBE, Carl Austin-Behan OBE, Karina Jadhav, Joanne Roney OBE and Sir Howard Bernstein.
Remembering the legacy left by Sir Howard Bernstein
This week Lisa attended the memorial for Sir Howard Bernstein, impacted by the emotions, tributes shared and lasting values. She wanted to re-share with you their conversation on the podcast.
As the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council for nearly 20 years, Sir Howard was instrumental in getting the city back on its feet after the IRA bomb in 1996. He then carried on his regeneration mission for almost two decades, galvanising public and private partnerships, changing the skyline and creating new communities in addition to bringing The Commonwealth Games to Manchester.
In their conversation recorded in the 2020 lockdown, Lisa Morton found out how you rebuild a city and the values that drove Sir Howard to grow the community. Sir Howard also shared some warm words of advice and support for Greater Manchester as the city region was rebuilt after the pandemic.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
"Manchester is just a place of opportunity, whatever it is that you do."
Nicola Marsh is a born and bred Salfordian and Managing Director of Essence Mediacom North.
Nicola created a career for herself in digital advertising in the early days of the internet, you’ll hear about how she continues to navigate this constantly evolving media landscape, and her commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion at Essence Mediacom.
In this episode, host Lisa Morton hears how Nicola went from driving around Salford selling newspaper adverts and drinking brews with her clients, to creating a place for local talent to thrive, whilst shaking up the digital advertising world.
Nicola reflects on what Manchester's vibrant nightlife has meant to her over the years, Manchester's unique sense of community, and opportunities and she speaks to how businesses can contribute to Greater Manchester’s growth.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
Connect with Nicola and Essence Media Com North
On LinkedIn
On Instagram
"The whole point about building a city is it isn’t one person’s project.”
Colin Shenton is the founder and CEO of Shenton Group, a property company he started in Manchester in the late 1980s, when the city looked and worked very differently.
You’ll hear about the deal Colin made the very beginning of his career, and how he handled the restoration of a heritage building aged just 21.
Colin shares with Lisa his passion for revitalising some of Manchester’s oldest buildings, blending the old with the new adding to Manchester's unique architectural charm.
This episode delivers captivating stories, about buildings that are instantly recognisable parts of Manchester’s skyline and streets, as well as parts of the city you may have never known were there.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Colin
On Instagram
On LinkedIn
“This is my city now till I die. I absolutely love it."
You will probably know Julie Hesmondhalgh as the legendary actor who took on the much-loved role of trans character Hayley Cropper on ITV’s Coronation Street.
Julie and host Lisa Morton discuss everything from Julie’s beginnings in Accrington; how she became one of the UK's most cherished performers and how Manchester has now become ‘her city’. You’ll hear about Julie’s deep involvement in local theatre in Greater Manchester, including her key role in the efforts to save Oldham Coliseum theatre from closing forever.
This is a heartwarming conversation about the transformative power of the arts, the importance of activism, and the strength of community.
Julie speaks about the 500 Acts of Kindness project she set up for Greater Mancunians who need them. Click the link above to join the Facebook page and learn how you can help.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
Connect with Julie
On X
On Instagram
"There's a culture of creativity in our city”
Dave Moutrey has been an integral part of Manchester’s arts and cultural scene since the 1980’s. He sits down with host Lisa Morton to discuss his journey to becoming a cornerstone of creativity in the city.
Lisa hears about Dave’s formative years, where the sparks of his passion for the arts were ignited during memorable trips to London. It was punk that inspired Dave to move to Manchester, a city that would become his canvas for creativity.
In this episode, you’ll hear how he played a pivotal role in establishing the cooperative ‘Arts About Manchester’; how he ran the iconic ‘Corner House’, and led the £25 million move to Manchester’s arts centre HOME.
Dave tells Lisa about his current work in shaping Manchester's new cultural strategy and together they delve into the significance of creativity, community, and collaboration in making Manchester a cultural hotspot for years to come.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the nearly 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
Connect with Dave
Via Instagram
Via LinkedIn
"What I love about Manchester, is it's constantly evolving”
Seema Malhotra combines glitz, glamour and proper manc graft.
On this episode of ‘We Built This City’ host Lisa Morton is joined by the co-founder of fashion brand ‘Forever Unique’ and star of the reality show ‘The Real Housewives of Cheshire’.
Seema candidly shares her experiences of juggling cultural and family expectations whilst trying to find her own identity in Manchester in the 90’s.
You’ll hear what it was like to establish a clothing brand in the textile quarter of the City and how Seema and her husband worked tirelessly to take it to the heights of the Fashion industry, and ultimately what it was like closing the doors on that brand after 30 years.
They also touch on her unwavering passion for Manchester United and why Roy Keane holds a special place in Seema’s heart.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the nearly 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
Connect with Seema
On Instagram
On X
‘Girls like me, they just don't do history.’
Dr Michala Hulme is a genealogist and broadcaster connecting people with their family history. In this episode, you’ll learn about the real people from Greater Manchester’s past and how they lived their lives.
Michala has an incredible talent for uncovering family trees, and her mission is to make history accessible and engaging for everyone.
Host Lisa Morton chats to Michala about her particular interest in the Victorian era of Manchester, her early interest in family history and the obstacles she faced and overcame in her educational pursuits and early career.
You’ll also learn about the unique experiences she had working on the doors of Manchester nightclubs in the 1990s whilst studying history.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the nearly 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
Connect with Michala
Via her website
On LinkedIn
"The whole city centre's my playground."
Take a stroll through Manchester's rich history and it’s vibrant present with Jonathan Schofield, a born and bred Mancunian. From its industrial roots to its modern-day resurgence, Jonathan shares intriguing stories and quotes that capture the essence of Greater Manchester's spirit.
Tour Guide and Editor-at-large of ‘Manchester Confidentials’ Jonathan Schofield uncovers forgotten facts of Greater Manchester, shares his favourite hidden gems of the city region and how to keep people looking back in a city that is rapidly moving forward.
In this episode, you’ll discover alongside host Lisa Morton how the city reigon has evolved over the years, the importance of keeping the stories of Greater Manchester’s places and people alive, don't miss this engaging walk through time and place!
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the nearly 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
Connect with Johnathan
Via his website
On X
Via Manchester Confidentials
Matty is a long-time Manchester resident with an intriguing journey, over his 25 years in the city region he’s become a well-known figure in Manchester's food and drink scene, you may have seen his videos with Manchester’s Finest exploring some of Mnachester’s best food and drink venues.
In this episode hear how Maty went from bartending across Manchester to broadcasting to the region, and what it was like to take on the role of live TV presenter when he landed a gig on Channel 4’s ‘Steph’s Packed Lunch’. This episode is not just about professional achievements but also about the power of resilience and the importance of finding your community.
Matty opens up to Lisa about the profound impact of learning about his biological father as well as overcoming homelessness as a teen. These experiences have significantly shaped his perspective on life, raising his own children and led him to help others experiencing homelessness in Manchester through the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity.
Join host Lisa Morton for an inspiring conversation about resilience, community, and the food and drink culture of Manchester.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the nearly 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Charity Bus Pull - 22nd August
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
Connect with Matty
On Instagram
On X
On YouTube
On LinkedIn
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Greater Manchester with Lisa Morton as she explores the enduring values that make Mancunians remarkable. This episode of 'We Built This City' brings together stories from past guests like Sharon Latham, Siobhan Johnston and Anna Jameson and others who embody the city's spirit of connectivity, generosity, and resilience.
You’ll hear stories of unexpected friendships and connections, career pivots and discover the power of connections, the magic of loyalty, and the spirit that has shaped Manchester's legacy this is an episode that's not just about a city, but about the people who make it great.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
Dive into the vibrant world of punk rock, DIY ethos, and the transformative power of music with John Robb an adopted Mancunian who has built a life in the beats and bars of Manchester.
John is a prolific writer who was the first to write books on the likes of the Stone Roses and The Charlatans Discover the untold stories behind the city's gritty rise to musical fame and how John's relentless creativity continues to shape its future.
Join Lisa Morton to hear how a punk kid from the coast became a cornerstone of the city's music scene, and why he believes Manchester's perpetual state of change is its greatest strength.
John is currently on a spoken-word tour and you can find out more about that here.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
Connect with John:
Via ‘Louder Than War’
On X FKA Twitter
On Instagram
“We look after the community and try to grow Manchester”
Julie Twist is a property pioneer who has been helping to shape the city's skyline since 1994.
In this episode of "We Built This City," Julie recounts her unexpected leap from supermarket employee to city centre property specialist celebrating 30 years of her company, Julie Twist Properties.
Discover alongside host Lisa Morton how Julie took on a male-dominated industry aged only 23, and what it was like to navigate a business through historic events like the Manchester IRA bomb.
Julie shares insights on the seismic shifts in Manchester's real estate landscape, the rise of luxury developments, and the challenges of balancing motherhood with a burgeoning business.
Find out how you create a community where there wasn’t one before and what it takes to create a 24-hour city.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
Connect with Julie
On Rightmove
Via her website
On LinkedIn
“All of these formidable women, it’s amazing”
To mark International Women’s Day 2024, Lisa Morton is asking some of Greater Manchester’s most inspiring role models what they are both celebrating and campaigning for in 2024.
In this special episode of We Built This City, Lisa explores what’s changing for women across boardrooms, classrooms, changing rooms and dancefloors.
You’ll hear from Jane Kenyon, founder of Girls Out Loud, Radio 1’s Victoria Jane, Zalena Vandrewala, chair of Women of the Year awards, Yvonne Harrison, CEO of Women In Football and Natasha Davies, Senior Marketing Manager for fine dining group, D&D London, who made it onto Northern Power Women’s Future List for 2024.
Find out what they are proud of, what they’re still fighting for - and which Greater Mancunian women inspire them to keep pushing for change.
Girls Out Loud have an upcoming fundraising ball on 19th April find out more information here.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
“Music is all around us in Manchester. It really is!”
Join Host Lisa Morton as one of Manchester Music’s most influential figures DJ Paulette shares stories of breaking barriers and beats in a male-dominated industry, from blagging a lifetime Hacienda membership to spinning records at the city's most iconic venues.
In this episode, Paulette reflects on the legendary “Flesh” club night the Hacienda's first gay event, where Paulette’s soundtracking helped to create cultural shifts and the unforgettable nights that were a testament to the transformative power of music.
Hear what is was like for Paulette to lose all of her live event work overnight during the pandemic, her involvement with StreamGM how the reaction of mancunians made her proud to be from this city.
Hear the insights and stories behind DJ Paulette’s much-anticipated book “Welcome to the Club, The Life and Lessons of a Black Woman DJ” It tells the story of over 30 years of living a creative life, the intersection of gay and rave culture and using music to shake things up.
Paulette is celebrating her book launch and International Women's Day with an event at the Whitworth Art Gallery on March 7th 2024. She’ll be in conversation with AFRODEUTSCHE. You can get free tickets here
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
Connect with Paulette
Buy her book
Via her Website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
“We couldn’t have picked a better city to build this arena”
Dive into the electrifying world of live events with Sam Piccione. Sam is the President International of Oak View Group, the company behind the much-anticipated Co-Op Live Arena.
Sam’s work has taken him from the United States to China, London, and now Manchester, where he's helping to create a new state-of-the-art venue. Sam and host Lisa Morton discuss his journey from music-loving New Jersey kid to key player in the global live events scene.
With iconic Manchester venues, like the Hacienda, the Free Trade Hall and the Ritz, what will this new space bring to the city and how do you build something brand new yet still incorporate the values of a Manchester institution like the Co-op?
Sam and Lisa discuss the unique features of Co-op Live, its community impact, and why Manchester is the perfect setting for this new chapter in live entertainment. Sam explains what it will feel like to be one of thousands of fans watching your favourite artists at Co-Op Live.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Sam
On LinkedIn
“You can have such a laugh with Manchester artists”
Yvonne Shelton’s musical career is as rich and varied as the city itself.
Her voice has echoed through the city's vibrant music scene for the past 40 years. She has performed as a backing singer for global stars, provided vocals for some of Manchester’s best-known artists and sang centre stage as part of the much-loved Hacienda Classical.
Yvonne's journey is a melody of resilience, community, and is a testament to the city's nurturing soul and its knack for producing enduring talent. You’ll hear about the supportive network of artists in Manchester that Yvonne is a part of and how you create connections that can lift people up.
Host Lisa Morton learns about the challenges of racism and sexism in the music industry, and the unyielding spirit that propels artists like Yvonne to keep their heads to the sky.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
On Spotify
“All good cities don’t turn their back on the river”
Dive into the transformational journey of Manchester's urban landscape. John Hughes has been a key player in the city's development for the past 20 years in his role at Ask Real Estate.
John started work just days after leaving university in 1997 when the city was still recovering from the IRA bomb. He’s since shaped some of the city's groundbreaking developments, like First Street, HOME and Embankment.
From the days of post-industrial decline to the bustling metropolis Manchester is today, discover the inside track on the city's regeneration. This conversation takes you through the placemaking and relationships that have formed the city.
So what does John think about gentrification and the rapid growth of Manchester? What are the values Ask Real Estate is keeping at the forefront whilst leaving a lasting legacy on the city's skyline? You’ll hear about all this and more in this episode.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Ask
Via their website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
“We're finding our feet again as a city.”
Lisa Morton is in the process of talking to one hundred born, bred and adopted Mancunians that have been - and are - the building blocks of Greater Manchester.
At the start of a new year it’s time to both reflect and look forward.
Who’s going to be running the city?
What are the events we'll be looking forward to?
And how is Manchester’s skyline going to change?
Lisa’s joined by Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, Joanne Roney OBE CBE; Entrepreneur and Business owner Karina Jadhav, Broadcaster Anna Jameson and
the Co Founder of OBI property Will Lewis, to look at these issues and more.
This episode is a celebration of Greater Manchester's spirit and a look ahead to its bright and promising horizon.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
On Spotify
“I just love telling people’s stories”
When Michael Taylor left Lancaster for university studies in Manchester, he gained more than a sociology degree - he found a city to call home, a true adopted Manc.
Experience 1980s Manchester through Michael's memories of the clubs, relationships and a cultural vibrancy he came to embrace and love.
What did Michael learn from being at the heart of the city’s business world as the editor of Business Insider, and what are the valuable lessons that have informed change in Manchester over the past 20 years?
Michael’s career has taken him down several different avenues into politics and academics, so what led him to recently return to his first love, journalism and become editor of online magazine The Business Desk.com and what does he feel is still left to be written?
This conversation demonstrates the power of place in shaping identity and the relationships and connections that help to build a career in Manchester.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On X FKA Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Michael
On X FKA Twitter
On LinkedIn
“I started listing what I needed from a childcare provider”
When Jennie Johnson’s childcare plans fell through on a work trip to London, she had a lightbulb moment that led her to create a hugely successful business. Jennie founded the children’s nursery chain Kids Allowed. By the time she sold that business, 20 years later, Kids Allowed was providing childcare services for over 2000 kids a week.
Jennie is now the co-founder of My First Five years. It’s an app that gives parents the information they need - and takes some of the stress out of parenting.
Hear about Jennie’s drive, her ideas and how her network supports her with the ups and downs of being a business owner. Lisa and Jennie also discuss the challenges of balancing work and family life as female entrepreneurs.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with My First Five Years:
Via their website
On Instagram
On Twitter
“I came here with a blank page to be written on”
PR mogul Andy Spinoza came to Manchester from London in 1979, drawn by the city’s radical history, its growing music scene and the urge to find a place to “fit”.
Lisa Morton finds out how he tried and failed to interview Tony Wilson in a front room in Rusholme’s Moon Grove, what it was like to launch the alternative magazine “City Life” and why he described himself as “Manchester’s human pinball” during his time working as the diary columnist for The Manchester Evening News.
Andy started his own PR firm SKV Communications in the late 90s and had a hand in the architectural regeneration of Mancher’s city centre, working on the likes of the launch of Beetham Tower in the mid-2000s
So, what drove him to recently call time on his PR business and instead chronicle 40 years of musical, social, and architectural transformation in the city that made him?
Andy’s new Book “Manchester Unspun” captures a moment in Manchester's rich cultural history and encapsulates a city in artistic and political flux.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Andy
Buy his book
On Instagram
On Twitter
“Go out there and create. You've got to do it.”
Actor John Henshaw joins Lisa Morton for a conversation in City Tower, which overlooks Manchester city centre. It’s a very different skyline to the one John came to love as a child growing up in Ancoats during the 50’s and 60’s.
John, who was one of 14, was born and raised on George Leigh street. He jokingly describes his childhood as “feral’, but with lots of love, pets and community.
Hear how John made the transition from bin man to respected character actor; what it was like working alongside Craig Cash and Caroline Aherne and how a role in The Royal Family led to him epitomising everyone’s pub landlord in iconic series Early Doors.
You’ll also get a great insight into Manchester history from someone who’s seen that area of the city experience dramatic change.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Who's putting the "great" into Greater Manchester?
We Built This City is all about the people, places and relationships that have built the fabric of modern Manchester.
Season 4 launches on 2nd November. In this series, host Lisa Morton brings you the remaining 22 of 100 born, bred or adopted Mancs that have impacted the city region.
"No one's better than anyone else, everyone's the same"
Anna Jameson is the broadcaster who wakes up Greater Manchester as the presenter of BBC Radio Manchester’s breakfast show. She’s also a reporter on North West Tonight and you can hear her on BBC Radio Five Live too.
Lisa and Anna discuss how Anna’s late Nan still inspires her, when she’s holding powerful people to account. Lisa also discovers what it’s like to be breaking news stories one minute, then holding people in power to account and interviewing celebrities the next.
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Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Anna:
On Twitter
On Instagram
“Get young people interested and believing they have a voice”
This episode of We Built this City is all about the future of Greater Manchester. Lisa Morton sat down with Councillor Garry Bridges and Manchester’s Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs), to talk about what young people need for their future. Over the past 12 months, Manchester has responded with a game-changing programme – “Our Year” - a legacy initiative to address the long-term impact of Covid-19 lockdowns on our younger generations. Better engagement, more activities, opportunities for personal growth and platforms to form positive connections are at the heart of “Our Year” and will also be an integral part of Manchester’s move in 2023 to become a Unicef UK Child-Friendly city.
Manchester’s three MYPs Virginia Collins, Daanya Isa and Lois Adela tell Lisa what drove them to stand for the Manchester Youth Parliament, the changes they’re working towards and what they’ve learnt about themselves since being elected. In this alternative perspective on Manchester, you’ll hear what these young people want from and for the city region. It’s more than fair to say that Manchester is in very good hands for the future.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Manchester MYP’s and Councillor Bridges
Lois
Virigina
Daanya
Counselor Garry Bridges
Lisa Morton has a new podcast. It's called Lobster Brain and it features interviews with highly successful people to find out how they got to the top. Click here to follow the podcast now.
“The only way we got our rights is by showing solidarity”
Divina De Campo is a force to be reckoned with, both on stage and off. They’ve got the ability to sing in 5 different languages and up and down 4.5 octaves - whilst wearing some incredible outfits and heels.
Divina has the best laugh in showbiz and there are some real laughs in this conversation too. Underpinning it all though, are some strong values and belief systems that have contributed towards Divina’s vibrant and unforgettable on-stage presence. You’ll hear about the grit and graft it takes to make a career in the creative industries and the reality of taking part in some of the UK’s biggest entertainment shows.
Divina’s time on Ru-Paul’s drag race UK created an iconic moment of television, when they addressed the damaging effects of section 28 in schools whilst they were growing up. You’ll hear Divina and Lisa explore this as well as the action that can be taken to stand up for LGBTQ rights in 2022.
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Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Divina
On Instagram
On Twitter
“For me it’s about giving opportunities to others.”
Maria Turner is the Client Services Director at Roland Dransfield. She’s recently celebrated 10 years at Roland Dransfield, having worked her way continuously from work experience - straight out of The University of Manchester - all the way to the leadership team.
Maria was an integral part of the team that created the “Roland Dransfield Way”, a set of values that form the core of the business. In this episode, you’ll hear that she lives those values day in, day out. So what draws a Scouser to Manchester, to work here, to strengthen relationships and help build this city (whilst wearing some of the highest stiletto ankle boots Manchester has ever seen)?
This conversation is about crafting a career and creating a legacy within a company and a community. Lisa and Maria discuss the “pits and peaks” of 10 years in business together and the “purposeful relationships” the business has created in that time.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Maria
On Twitter
“If I’m not an artist, what am I?”
Artist Davo Howarth joined Lisa Morton in “Heaven” at Hotel Football for this week's episode. It’s a place that’s very close to Davo’s heart as it overlooks Old Trafford football ground.
A born and raised Manc, Davo is an artist who describes his style as “explosive.” In this conversation, you’ll hear how he navigated the school system growing up as a creatively minded kid who’d rather be painting than playing PlayStation. Davo says people would tell him being an artist wasn’t a career option but he carved out his own path to creative success all the same.
Hear about the values of discipline that have kept Davo consistent with his work, how he deals with self-doubt and how a recent health scare has forced him to re-evaluate his priorities and take a slower pace of life for a while.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Davo
On Instagram
On Twitter
Via his website
Tony Michaelides has been described as a walking, talking, encyclopaedia of music. He’s been described that way for good reason, because he’s worked with everyone from David Bowie, to New Order to Take That.
Tony worked in promotions and as a consultant in the music industry. He’s also very well known in Manchester for his time at Piccadilly Radio, where his nickname was “Tony the Greek”.
He describes himself as “an adopted yank, but always a Manc”. He now lives in the United States after the US government granted him a green card for services to music and the arts. In this episode, you’ll hear some fantastic stories taken from his book “Moments That Rock”, about everyone from the Happy Mondays, to U2, Simply Red, James and the Stone Roses.
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Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Tony:
On Twitter
Via his website
“Hopefully, people see me and think ‘I could do that too’”
In this episode, Lisa is joined by Manchester-born and raised Kyle Walker. Kyle is a presenter and reporter for Sky Sports, former host of BBC Radio Manchester’s “The Dead Good Show” and contributor on Football Focus and Match of the Day.
Kyle is proud of his roots and is passionate about showing young people from Manchester that they don't need to fear stepping out of their comfort zone to achieve their goals.
Despite being only 30 Kyle has grafted to get to where he is now and he’s managed to fit a lot in. You’ll hear about the people who’ve inspired him, the values and sayings that have kept him on track and the opportunities that made his career include; chatting with Pep Guardiola in the back of a cab and interviewing the other Kyle Walker….
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Kyle
On Twitter
On Instagram
“Continuing a Pride that Manchester can be proud of”
This week the city is celebrating Manchester Pride 2022. Across the weekend there will be the annual parade, vigil, parties and a new Human Rights rally in celebration of Manchester’s LQBTQ+ community.
This episode shines a light on Manchester Pride: the festival weekend, the people who bring it all together and the community that surrounds it. Host Lisa Morton will be finding out what it means to people in the city region as well as the work that has been done to refocus the event.
You’ll hear Pride CEO Mark Fletcher explain the values that have been driving this year's celebrations, how it supports Manchester charity LGBT Foundation and you’ll hear from previous We Built This City guests on the place and families that LGBTQ+ people find in Manchester.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Manchester Pride:
On Twitter
On Instagram
Connect with LGBT Foundation:
On Twitter
On Instagram
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
“Manchester is a place where young people come, to find their feet and then fly.” Manchester has hosted graduation ceremonies for thousands of students recently, who have reached the end of their undergraduate and postgraduate studies. It’s a good time to celebrate everything Manchester has to offer its students, from the amazing creative and tech industries to the ever-growing music scene and nightlife. Poet, author and previous guest on We Built This City, Lemn Sissay, has been the Chancellor of The University of Manchester since 2015. He’s made many contributions to the University in that time, but now he’s handing over to Nazir Afzal. On this episode you’ll hear Lisa reflect on the work Lemn’s been doing, as well as hearing from Tom Bloxham MBE, Leader of Manchester City Council Bev Craig and actor and comedian John Thomson, on their student days in the city.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Bev Craig is the leader of Manchester City Council, a job she describes on her Twitter biog as “running the best city in the world”.
She grew up on a council estate just outside Belfast, and it wasn’t the kind of place where you’d be expected to move away and go to university. But as you’ll hear - Bev’s not the kind of person to be pigeonholed. She got involved in politics at a young age, through getting involved in women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. Making sure that ALL people have places in which they feel safe and welcome, has been right at the core of her politics.
You’ll hear about Bev’s plans for housing in Manchester, her thoughts on the government’s current proposal for the HS2 integration into Manchester Piccadilly, and you’ll get an insight into Bev’s thoughts on the past few weeks of turmoil in Westminster.
Emma Goswell is a broadcaster, podcaster and author who champions the stories of LGBTQ plus people. Her podcast and book, “Coming Out Stories', shines a light on the experiences of 100’s of people of all ages and backgrounds, from all over the world. Emma co-hosted the groundbreaking Gaydio breakfast show in Manchester when the station first went national. She won a Sony award for her work for the prison radio association, and you can also hear her on Virgin Radio Pride, with her show “The Weekend Outing”. Emma recalls the time she was drafted in to advise the creators of Brookside on how to accurately portray British television’s first lesbian kiss and how she ended up washing and blowdrying an award-winning bull as part of her extremely successful ‘Manhunt’ programme on BBC Radio Manchester. Having recently struggled through a difficult birth for her daughter, Niamh, Emma expresses her gratitude to the NHS and drives home the importance of respecting other people for who they are and embracing those from all walks of life.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Emma On Twitter Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
William Lees-Jones took over the family’s brewing company, JW Lees, in 2004 and now owns pubs across the North-West of England and Wales. His forward thinking and proactive approach has earned him a reputation for invoking radical changes within his industry whilst sticking to traditional values and championing the culture that surrounds the local. He recalls the struggle of ensuring the safety of his employees over the course of the covid lockdowns and the various actions they took to protect the JW Lees pubs. You’ll also hear how he has helped to support underprivileged communities and young people across Manchester through projects such as the Mahdlo Youth Zone in Oldham and Manchester’s Community Foundation, Forever Manchester.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Will On twitter
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
"If you can see the poverty in Greater Manchester or anywhere and not act, I'm worried.” - Vikas Shah MBE Ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on Friday 3rd June, we are taking a look back at those, of our guests, who have been recognised for their acts of service to others, to their communities and to causes they hold close to their hearts. Join us for a special episode in which we will hear the inspirational stories of the Mancs who have been awarded MBEs, OBEs, Deputy Lieutenant and High Sheriff and the reasons for which they have chosen to devote their lives to service.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
“I’m going to publicly forgive the terrorist who killed Martyn, because anger breeds anger and hate breeds hate - somebody needs to break the cycle.”
Figen Murray practises kindness and teaches resilience in an effort to build a safer, united community in which people trust and respect each other. After losing her son, Martyn, in the Manchester Arena attack she gave up her career working as a therapist to study counter-terrorism and now speaks to young people about the dangers of online radicalisation. Ahead of the 5th anniversary, you’ll hear Figen describe the harrowing night of the attack and the difficult months that followed, the value of forgiving those who have been led astray and the power of small acts of kindness in making a monumental improvement to each of our lives.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Figen
Via her website
Via Twitter
“For us it’s all about the future, it’s about laying down the foundations with new composers and new communities that we can make a difference in, in the future.” Bob Riley came from the “cow pats of East Yorkshire” to the “hustle and bustle of Manchester” after his talents on the violin secured him a place at the Royal Northern College of Music. He has now held the position of Chief Executive at the Manchester Camerata for almost 16 years, he joins Lisa at the Camerata’s new home, Gorton Monastery. Bob talks about the Camerata’s efforts to connect with the local community and its focus on hosting projects and events that will have a positive impact. He describes how they are challenging judgmental ‘concert hall traditions’, opening up spaces to a wider range of artists and audiences and allowing people to clap whenever they feel like it.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
“It was that dark moment that powered me forward - that year I went on to achieve things I never thought were possible.” Scott Thomas, owner of Social PR, Food4Thoughts and his own personal brand, knows the struggle of beating your demons and overcoming difficult times. The desire to reach his full potential has driven him to continually work on himself, both mentally and physically, so that he can support the people around him. His journey to fame began hosting exclusive club nights across Manchester where he built a network of like-minded business people. From there he began to build his companies, starting off selling selfie-sticks and hoverboards, and now running a highly successful PR company as well as a self-improvement program. In this episode, you’ll hear how becoming labelled ‘the academic one’ shaped his identity, the importance of beating the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and how the community spirit of Manchester has captured Scott’s heart.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
“It’s about creating a new generation of Mancs who believe they can do anything” Can a museum do exactly that? Sally MacDonald is the Director of the Science and Industry Museum, and that’s her aim. Sally learnt about the importance of looking and storytelling through objects, after attending an art class at Manchester Museum as a child. Her passion continued as she studied archaeology and went on to open museums in London - before being pulled back up north by the job at MOSI in 2014. In this episode, you’ll hear how the museum fuses together old and new technologies to keep industry alive; how it’s responding to the return of visitors post-pandemic, and how it’s working towards achieving Manchester's ambitious carbon-negative goals.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Sally and MOSI Via the MOSI website On LinkedIn On Twitter
“I'm living the dream - Manchester United fan, boy and man” What’s it like to live your dream? Alan Keegan is otherwise known as “The Voice of Old Trafford”, where he’s the corporate MC and matchday compere. Alan’s family came to Manchester from the west of Ireland in the late 50’s. They settled in Chorlton Upon Medlock, where his mum ran a shop, which was a real hub of the community. With players like George Best, Alan and his family were cemented as lifelong supporters of Manchester United. He’s been working at Manchester United since the late 90’s. In this episode, you'll hear the stories of the managers and players that have passed through during that time, and you’ll hear what Alan’s learnt from them about leadership and teamwork too.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Alan
On Instagram
On Twitter
Via his Website
“So much of social media was a gold rush” At 28 Dominic McGregor has already sold his first very successful business Social Chain which he co-founded with Dragon Steven Barlett, Dom has now moved into the world of investments with Fearless Adventures. He says he knows what it's like to start a company and face the business world for the first time overwhelmed, so, he is driven by helping first time entrepreneurs on their venture. Hear what it was like to work in the social media space in the very early days of social media content and marketing and how Dom and Steven went from winging it to creating a business culture with values that saw a great team form around them and go onto big things.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Dom On Twitter On Instagram
Via his website
“We’re enabling a city region of tinkerers”
Dr MarilynComrie OBE is a green tech entrepreneur who is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to thrive. She’s also a leader for diversity and inclusion in the city.
As you’ll hear Marilynbelieves in following the “golden thread” of life. She’s followed a flow of life which has taken her all over the world and changed her path on several occasions.
Marilyn and her two sons Nile and Blair overcame many hurdles whilst setting up their joint venture “The Blair Project”. You’ll also hear how their commitment to never leaving the game early landed them with £10,000 in their account just at the right time. They went on to build an inspiring business, turn over half a million and create the next generation of engineers and leaders.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Marilyn
On LinkedIn
Via The Blair Project’s website
“When I go to a club and the music is great and it’s full of young people I think, this is the next revolution.” Dave Haslam is a legendary Manc, who helped to create the eclectic sound of the Hacienda through his weekly DJ sets during the late 80’s and 90’s and then at iconic Manchester club The Boardwalk. He played for the Hacienda crowds over 480 times and was even the last person to spin vinyl on the infamous decks. Undoubtedly Dave has cemented himself as a music veteran and has continued venturing into the world of arts and culture, curating bands for Manchester International Festival and writing books about music, artists, ideas and places, Dave’s passion for his projects is evident and his desire to share them works its way into everything he does. Join Lisa Morton as she hears about the time Dave cooked cauliflower cheese for Morrisey, how he came to part with all of his vinyl and why Tony Wilson wanted him dead.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Dave
Via his website
On Instagram
On Twitter
"Manchester had always been glinting on the horizon across the Lancashire plain" On National Storytelling week, host Lisa Morton brings you some of the best stories about Manchester places, from the We Built This City archives.
You'll hear about iconic Manchester buildings, like Granada studios, Manchester's pubs, like the Dog and Partridge in Didsbury and about the redevelopment of the Northern Quarter. Featuring contributions from Lemn Sissay, Chris Oglesby, Eamonn O'Neal, Sharon Latham, Siobhan Johnston, Liam Manton, Tom Bloxham and Vikas Shah.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
“You didn’t need music. You could listen to the stories by earwigging” Manchester poet Argh Kid is one of many guests on We Built This City, to reflect on the fact that Mancunians tell great tales. As National Storytelling Week approaches, host Lisa Morton brings you some of the best stories about Manchester people, from the We Built This City Archives. You’ll hear about the famous to the not so famous. You’ll hear about poetry of everyday life, plus you’ll hear a story about Roland Dransfield himself. Featuring contributions from Argh Kid aka David Scott; Karen Gabay; Shelina Begum, Dianne Bourne, Liz Taylor, Justin Eagleton, Eamonn O’Neal, Gary Neville, Geraldine Ryan, Sacha Lord, Sid Williams and John Thomson
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
“There’s a real sense of collaboration in Manchester that’s quite unique”
Dr Kirsty Fairclough is a reader in Screen Studies and Chair of the Manchester Jazz Festival. She’s also on the Music Board for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority - and as you’ll hear in this interview, she oozes Manchester music culture. However, it’s not just the maraca shaking scene of the nineties that Kirsty champions, as she says, there’s so much more.
You’ll hear how Kirsty went from gaining two GCSEs in high school, to lecturing at The University of Salford, just one year after graduating herself, at the age of 21. You’ll also hear how Kirsty connected Manchester and Minneapolis through her love of Prince.
Lisa and Kirsty also discuss the exciting development of Manchester Metropolitan University’s new SODA building and how the Manchester music scene is recovering after the pandemic, through creating new opportunities for young emerging artists.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Kirsty Via the SODA website On Twitter
“If you put it out there, you’ll get it back”
Siobhan Johnston is a sales executive for Hits Radio.
This episode is a lesson in how to get out of things what you put in and giving everything your all. Siobhan is a big believer in putting your dreams out into the universe to see them realised, she tells Lisa how she went from losing everything to being headhunted by Manchester City to manage The Tunnel Club, along with achieving everything else on her “list”.
Born and bred in North Manchester Siobhan lives Mancunian values of integrity, loyalty and hard graft and has enough stories to fill a book, from spending an afternoon in the cells underneath Kendal’s to stroking Ronaldo’s freshly waxed legs, you won’t forget about Siobhan once you meet her.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website On Instagram On Twitter On Spotify
2021 has really sorted the wheat from the chaff when it comes to those people who lead authentically.
To round up We Built This City for the year, Lisa takes the time to reflect on the wise words of her guests from the past 12 months.
You’ll hear Manchester’s leaders, doers and creators discuss why traits like vulnerability, honesty and humility allow you to create connections; built on trust and lead people in testing times.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website On Instagram On Twitter On Spotify
“You don’t need to have super-heroes because there are so many stories you can shine a spotlight on from an ordinary couple sat on the couch.”
David Scott - AKA Argh Kid - is the poet who's captured the imagination of Mancunians with his observational work that often celebrates the Manchester dialect.
David never expected to get a career in the creative industries when he was growing up. Now - he's the official poet for the NSPCC and UEFA, and he’s worked with Manchester United. His radio show on BBC Radio Manchester showcases creative talent from across the region and his book Mancunians is out in 2022.
You'll hear as Lisa Morton discusses the guts it took for Dave to stand on stage and perform in front of all his friends and family, for the first time, in his early 30's. How that led to a video that went viral and kick-started his career, and how he can hear the poetry that comes from everyday people in Greater Manchester.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website On Instagram On Twitter On Spotify Connect with Dave: Via website On Twitter
“Cities are about the people who live in them, not the things and the buildings.”
On December 1st Manchester City Council leader, Sir Richard Leese, is stepping down after 25 years. Released on the day he and his colleagues will be gathering to celebrate an incredible tenure, this special episode of We Built This City is reflecting on his career. Lisa Morton shares highlights from their first conversation back in June and hears what Sir Richard is looking forward to as they catch up in the final days of his position.
Sir Richard Leese started his tenure in May 1996 less than a month before the fateful IRA bomb; since that day he has worked around the clock to rebuild the city in a way that has given Mancs their “swagger” back. From The Commonwealth games to the regeneration of the city centre to Manchester International Festival there are so many tangible ways that Sir Richard’s legacy has bettered the city.
Hear as Sir Richard tells Lisa about his new role leading the Greater Manchester Health and Care Board working to deliver better health prospects for the people of Greater Manchester and learn what lessons he will be taking forward with him from his time in civic leadership.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Sir Richard:
On Twitter
“When given an opportunity, grab with both hands and take it “ Commercial Litigator Geraldine Ryan is a born and bred Greater Mancunian (despite her scouse twang!). Having spent her career working across the north west, she’s currently a partner at the International Law firm CMS in Manchester. Geraldine’s family values have served her well in her career. You’ll hear about those, as well as some of the life lessons that emerged from some of the biggest cases that she has acted on. Including “wading through a scrum of the world’s press” to get Wayne Rooney into the courtroom to give evidence. A job well done for Geraldine means her clients often don't want to see her again, however she tells host Lisa Morton how gaining a client’s trust and their reliance upon her is so important.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Geraldine:
On LinkedIn
“The harder you work the luckier you get”.
Stanley Chow is a world-renowned artist from Manchester whose artwork is now commonplace with Mancunians after drawing countless icons from the city. From Liam Gallagher to Emmeline Pankhurst, you’ll see Stan’s distinctive drawings scattered around the walls of so many buildings, bars and restaurants in the city.
Hear as he tells Lisa Morton how he very nearly won a GRAMMY, met Man United legends such as Bobby Charlton and Dennis Law, and how he and those around him felt they were on the cusp of something big in the famed 90s of Manchester.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Stan: On Instagram On Twitter Via his website
“Everything you need, you have.”
How well do the worlds of football and yoga mix? Everton’s Head of Medicine and Transformational Coach, Danny Donachie, has been blending the two throughout his career at the club. He offers a “safe space to open up” in the midst of what could be thought of as a macho environment. Danny was born in Manchester, where he spent the early part of his childhood. He lived in the United States for several years, before returning to the region to start secondary school. Lisa Morton discovers how it was Danny’s Dad’s (Manchester City’s Willie Donachie) own journey with self-discovery that influenced the spiritual path that Danny has taken in his own life. You’ll also hear about the impact that yoga and meditation can have - and why Danny turned to football, rather than his original plan of becoming a Buddhist monk.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Danny: On Twitter On LinkedIn
“I look over my shoulder and feel the support” It’s a year since Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham, responded so passionately to the Government’s lack of financial support, as the city region was placed under Tier 3 restrictions. This is Andy’s second appearance on We Built This City. He and Lisa reflect on that moment, in front of the TV cameras, on the steps of Central Library in Manchester. Since Andy and Lisa last spoke, he has been voted in as Greater Manchester’s Mayor for a second time. You’ll hear about the challenges he’s grappled with during the past 18 months, his love and vision for the city and you’ll also hear about the music that’s helped him through lockdown too. Including one very Mancunian Johnny Marr moment that will stay in his memory forever!
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website On Instagram On Twitter On Spotify Connect with Andy: On Twitter On Instagram
“I’m just very, very raw, real and true, but sometimes a little bit too dark and a little bit too naughty for people. And I think that is a Mancunian thing.” Happy Mondays singer Rowetta Satchell, needs little introduction. Her voice is the synonymous sound of Manchester from the late 80’s right through to today. Born and raised in North Manchester, the spirit of the region runs through Rowetta’s veins - from her love of Manc humour and cool weather - to the most bizarre chippy order ever! Join Lisa Morton as she hears about the resilience that saw Rowetta leave a women’s aid refuge with two children, aged 21, to tour the world with the Happy Mondays. You’ll also hear about the women in Rowetta’s childhood, who supported and nurtured her talent for singing.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Rowetta: On Instagram
On Twitter
“You can't talk about living boldly with HIV on stage, and then not say it in the barber’s chair”
Nathaniel Hall is an actor, writer, performer and HIV positive activist. He starred in Russell T Davies’ amazing Channel 4 series, “It’s A Sin”.
Nathaniel’s own award-winning solo show, “The First Time”, tells the story of how he contracted HIV, afterhis first time. He was only 16.
In this episode, Nathaniel talks about coming to terms with that diagnosis at such a young age; about how to find peace after trauma and how it’s through refusing to be ashamed, that he helps other people.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Nathaniel:
Via his website
On Instagram
On Twitter
Organisational Psychologist John Amaechi OBE, helps businesses develop thriving cultures, as founder of APS Intelligence.
“We need to embrace the fact that we’re vulnerable, and we need embrace the fact that we don’t know everything as leaders.”
In this episode, John talks about what it takes to be a successful leader, his career and how he became who he is today.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with John: On Twitter On Instagram
Connect with APS Intelligence: On Twitter On Instagram
It’s pride weekend here in Manchester, so here’s a preview of an upcoming guest on We Built This City. Nathaniel Hall is a writer, performer, actor and HIV+ activist; he’s also well known for his role on ITV’s It’s A Sin.
Season 3 of We Built This City launches on the 9th of September.
Lisa Morton returns with more of the incredible people who have put the heart and soul in to the iconic city region of Greater Manchester. Find out who is the first guest of the new season.
Manchester is known around the world for music, sport, art, culture, tv, food and much much more. In these conversations with inspirational Mancunians - born, bred or adopted - Lisa Morton is on a journey to discover what drives them. What are their values? What is their purpose? And what is their legacy?
Most of all - what can we learn from people who work to "plant trees they will never see?"
In Season 2 you met Mancunians like boxer Sam Hyde; fitness guru, actor and presenter Gemma Atkinson; poet Lemn Sissay, and the former and current CEO of Manchester City Council: Sir Howard Bernstein and Joanne Roney OBE.
This season features many more of the inspiring stories that have built this city, at a time when we are rebuilding this city.
Thank you for listening to We Built This City - the new season launches on September 9th and we can't wait to share our next set of incredible Mancunians.
We'll get back to dancing on tables again.
As series two of We Built This City comes to an end host Lisa Morton looks back at the stories and values that have been shared by the fifty-one Mancunians that have joined her on the show, reflecting on how the city has coped this past year and looking ahead to a time when Mancs can come together once again.
“One bit of advice I could give to anyone is don't be a one-trick pony.” Manchester’s treasure, comedian, actor, voice-over artist, musician and magician, John Thomson returns to close Season Two after opening Season One to give his own unique perspective of a year of not being a one-trick pony in a year when we all learned to adapt. Regaling Lisa and her mum, Carol, this week’s special guest - and a secret JT super fan - with stories from filming The Masked Singer, “This Time” with Alan Partridge’s, Midsummer Murders and Bargain Loving Brits, John brings hilarity, heart and a lot of joy. Discover alongside Lisa Morton how John celebrates having multiple skills to his metaphorical bow and how he has used his infectious positivity to approach the uncertainty of the last year. _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 25 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with John: On Twitter On Instagram
Know your worth and your values will follow.
Host Lisa Morton reflects on how Author and previous guest Lemn Sissay developed a value system that was true to himself having experienced betrayal as a child in care. Lisa explores the place within where your true values lie and what uncovering them can do.
“Manchester had always been glinting on the horizon across the Lancashire plains.” Lemn Sissay, the world-renowned creative, grew up in the small villages of Lancashire, but always felt a magnetic pull drawing him to Manchester. In Manchester, Lemn found not only an oasis away from the deceit that tainted his childhood but discovered an opportunity to meet with fellow creatives that would inspire him to forge a new path for himself. Now a renowned poet, playwright, and speaker, Lemn has helped to shape a city that helped to shape him. As Chancellor of the University of Manchester and Artistic Advisor to the Manchester International Festival, Lemn champions our city and gives back to a community that he loves very much and that loves him back the same. Discover alongside Lisa Morton, the story of Lemn’s resilience and passion, his connection with Greater Manchester and his brilliant value system that continues to act as a compass for all that he does.
Lemn's peers that he shared the stage with also went on to build this city with their work, like Comedian John Thomson and Property Developer Tom Bloxham who have both been on previous episodes of this podcast, find them in our feed Manc 03 and Manc 32.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Lemn: On Twitter
On Instagram
Actress and radio presenter Gemma Atkinson has always kept it real, she's never been afraid to share her story warts and all, and admits that life hasn't always been perfect. In the gym, she's working hard, not taking selfies for Instagram. Lisa Morton explores this value and the role it has played in her own life, and how both she and Gemma have done it while not tolerating any D***heads along the way.
"I've learned the importance of being connected with people, trying to keep people's spirits high"
Adrian Ellis, General Manager of the iconic Lowry Hotel and Chair of the Manchester Hotelier’s Association, spent years working in some of the world’s most prestigious hotels in Singapore, Bali and Azerbaijan, only to return to Manchester to head up the city’s only 5-star hotel.
Born in Norfolk but now a proud adopted Manc, Adrian’s passion for Manchester’s brilliant city region and hospitality sector knows no bounds. His desire to inspire local talent to see the hotel industry as a viable sector which can provide brilliant opportunities, is unparalleled. This passion, when coupled with his wealth of experience, marks Adrian as a gamechanger in the hospitality industry in Manchester.
Join Lisa Morton as she uncovers Adrian’s thrilling stories, featuring everything from ministering to Arab Royalty to Pop Princesses, and explores the individuality, vibrancy, and dynamism that fuels Manchester’s hotel sector.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Adrian: On Twitter
On LinkedIn
Join the titans of Manchester’s hospitality industry as they explore the vision, values and passion behind the city’s thriving food, drink and hotel sector.
Featuring wisdom from the likes of Gary Neville, Simon Wood, Karina Jadhav, Gareth Harold, Becky Wilkes, Sacha Lord and many more, discover alongside Lisa Morton the journey that Manchester’s beloved hospitality sector has undergone throughout the course of the pandemic.
In this episode of We Built This City we celebrate the Manchester that lives and breathes in the places where we all come together, as we ask: What does the hospitality sector mean to Manchester? How have the businesses survived? What have they learned in this year? And how does it feel to be open again?
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
...We leave after we have given it our all. Always. If there's one way Sam Hyde became a professional boxer, business owner, and property entrepreneur by the age of 27 it’s by not leaving the game early. Lisa Morton digs into Sam's ethos of working the 5 to 9, not the 9 to 5, and not giving up when things got tough, but working and innovating his way through them.
“You've got to know your worth and know what you will and won't accept, because until you know that, you'll go into the next situation, probably repeating the same pattern.”
Gemma Atkinson, host of Hits Radio’s drive time show, has a relentless work ethic, effervescent personality and no-nonsense approach to healing, all of which have contributed to an incredible career that has seen Gemma, who was born and bred here in Greater Manchester, become a household name.
As an actress, radio presenter, DJ, charity fundraiser, author, model (and more), Gemma’s drive has seen her positively impact so many individuals and foster purposeful relationships that will last a lifetime.
Discover alongside Lisa Morton, Gemma’s brilliant approach to wellbeing, healing and purpose that have seen her live a life guided by values.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
“If you've run a five-minute mile, you know that there's a chance you can probably do a four and a half minute mile. You're not going to go backwards. So, I believe once you conquer that self-belief and truly believe in yourself, anything’s possible and you don't go back then."
Sam Hyde’s ability to believe in himself has seen him achieve incredible amounts of success. From an amazing professional boxing career to running his own gym, Nowhere 2 Hyde, to launching a property company, Sam, at age 27, has already created an impressive legacy.
His success is underpinned by hard graft and a determination to give back to his local community of Sale, Greater Manchester.
In this episode, discover alongside Lisa Morton, the power of having self-belief and passing on that sense of self-belief to others.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Sam
Via his website
On Twitter
“I've got determination and that determination will take me as many places as I want it to go. And I really feel, if we can have determination, we can transform our own world.”
Founder of Tales to Inspire, Greater Mancunian, Krish Patel, is driven by his determination to transform our world for the better. This commitment to leading with empathy has resulted in incredible work that has impacted communities across the globe.
In this episode, discover alongside Lisa Morton, how seeing potential in yourself can be instrumental in overcoming obstacles, leading a purpose-driven life and creating a legacy to be proud of.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Krish:
Via his website
On LinkedIn
“Stars don’t make a noise, they just shine.” This is what Roland Dransfield himself told We Built This City host Lisa Morton growing up. Lisa reflects on how Manc 44: Marcie Incarico has become the spearhead of the events sector not by snapping selfies with celebrities on the red carpet, but by sitting quietly around the edges.
"You can't just take the money and run, my God, we're going to make sure you get a return on investment"
Marcie Incarico, Owner and Director of Mix Interiors, spearheaded the Manchester business events sector, cultivating it to become the vibrant industry that it is today.
From being named as one of Manchester’s most inspirational women, to raising over £1million for On Side Youth Zones in one singular event, to launching an interior design magazine publication, Marcie has built a legacy that will stand the test of time.
But what values aided her on her road to success? Discover alongside Lisa Morton how passion, graft and creativity are integral in cultivating purposeful relationships and facilitating business success.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Marcie Incarico: Via Mix Interiors
Everyone's got their own "tacos and tequila".
We Built This City host Lisa Morton shares her takeaway from Manc 43: Simon Wood, she reflects on the devastating impact of the pandemic on the hospitality industry and Roland Dransfield alike, the importance of being able to pivot your business but never your values and working to find your own tacos and tequila.
“I want to be the best at anything that I do. And if you're not doing it to be the best at it, then let someone else do it and do something that you're better at.”
Founder of Wood Restaurants and 2015 winner of MasterChef, Simon Wood, began his love affair with food with his nan’s tripe and cow heel - and now he’s celebrated in the Michelin Guide.
Discover alongside Lisa Morton the importance of pursuing your dreams, the value of timing your successes and not jumping the gun, and how to be a voice for the people when the world’s turned upside down.
There are conversations with fellow Manchester foodies Corin Bell and Mary Ellen McTauge available on the We Built This City feed for you to listen to now. Also, Simon talks about the work Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has done, you can hear the episode with Andy on the feed too. We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Simon Wood: On Twitter On Instagram
If that shiny new person in your life feels too good to be true, they are!
In this bonus episode, Lisa Morton expands on what her guest Manc 42: Frank Mckenna had to say on setting the values for your business and why creating values for yourself and your business allows you to align your whole life so that you know when someone or something is causing your integrity to be compromised.
"If you're really going to make a difference to people's lives, then you don't want to be asking for permission - you just want to be doing it."
Frank Mckenna is the Chief Executive of Downtown in Business and co-founder of UnitedCity – a campaigning group seeking to rebuild the city’s economy - and this Liverpool-born change-maker is ready to tell us why Manchester opened its doors wide for a scouser.
Discover alongside Lisa Morton the value of disruption, the power of cohesive city leadership and why you should never tolerate a dope.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Frank McKenna: Via Downtown In Business On Twitter
Or tracksuit in this case.
Lisa Morton revisits the value; walk a mile in another's shoes as she reflects on the stories that Manc 41; Sid Willam told in their conversation. She delves into experiences that prove sympathy is very different to empathy.
“There's a difference between success and doing something significant.”
Founder of Embassy, Sid Williams, took a disused tour bus and turned it into Manchester’s first-ever mobile homeless shelter. Now, he’s getting ready to build 40 new homes to help our city’s most vulnerable.
In this episode, Lisa Morton discovers the significance of following your calling and how even the smallest things can regalvanise your faith – like some ham in your post box. We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
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Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Sid Williams: On Twitter On LinkedIn
Lisa Morton reflects on networking and the value of having purposeful relationships. She explores how your relationships are like bank accounts, it's fine to ask for a withdrawal, as long as you're putting in more than you're taking out. In Lisa's network, Yvonne Harrison and Liz Taylor are prime examples of this.
“At its heart, sport reaches places that other things can't.”
Founder of Stryve and Chair of the Class of ‘92’s charity Foundation 92, Yvonne Harrison has built a career on creating a more accessible sporting world, underpinned by her courageous commitment to asking the difficult questions.
Find out alongside Lisa Morton the rewards you can reap from volunteering, the power of relationships in building your career and the reason we should all be friendly, non-judgemental Mancs.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Yvonne Harrison On Twitter Via Stryve
“There were no male housekeepers and there were no female chefs. So everyone was in their ‘rightful place’ until I upset things.” Mary-Ellen McTague, owner of The Creameries and founder of the much-lauded Aumbrey in Prestwich, launched her career at the Michelin starred Sharrow Bay before working alongside Heston Blumenthal, and in the last year has fed 31,000 vulnerable people through her project, Eat Well Manchester. Discover alongside Lisa Morton the courage it takes to level the playing field, the importance of eradicating food waste, and why you should never be afraid to take chances. We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Mary Ellen McTague: On Twitter Via her website
Lisa Morton looks at how we can check our ego to ensure we know we're no bigger than the team we are part of and that we make that team better. Reflecting on her conversation with Youth Climate Activist Emma Greenwood Lisa shares her takeaways.
In all aspects of life, it's important to see beyond yourself and look to the bigger union that your part of, to leave that partnership, company or in this case planet a better place than when you arrived.
“I want you to be scared.”
17-year-old Emma Greenwood is a youth MP for Bury and eco-feminist who’s ready to change the world.
Find out alongside Lisa Morton the importance of self-education, what it’s like to work alongside Greta Thunberg, and the power of finding your own voice.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Emma Greenwood: On Twitter
“I can and I will, watch me.”
Manchester is built on trailblazing women, so to mark International Women’s Day 2021, we’re going to celebrate the incredible women that you’ve heard on our podcast over the last two series.
Join Lisa Morton in discovering how you build a legacy in a world that doesn’t tilt in your favour, the importance of fighting for younger generations and how you can choose to challenge, every single day.
ChooseToChallenge
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Phil Mayall, Board Director of Muse, doesn’t just change places – he changes people’s aspirations.
Phil has been behind some of the region’s biggest placemaking and regeneration projects, from Vimto Gardens to the £2.5bn Salford Crescent project.
Discover alongside Lisa Morton how Phil creates spaces for communities to live, breathe and grow in Greater Manchester, the value of relationships and how it feels to know ‘that’s my building’.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Phil Mayall: Via Muse On Twitter
“If you get stuff wrong, and you will get stuff wrong, you’re a human being”.
Lisa Morton explores the strength of making mistakes and learning from them. She looks at how Bryony Shanahan’s model of leading with kindness, actually provides people with space, humility and courage to deal with any mistake they or the team make. The outcome is powerful.
“If I can even create a little bit of the atmosphere that happens in a football arena, in the theatre, then I will.”
Bryony Shanahan was named Joint Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange in February 2020. Just one month later, the lights went down suddenly as Covid struck the UK.
Discover alongside Lisa Morton the effect Covid has had on live performance and theatre, the responsibility of preserving the Royal Exchange for Manchester, and the realities of making difficult choices in a fight for survival.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Bryony Shanahan: On Twitter
Via the Royal Exchange
"We don't judge others, we empathise, and we learn"
Lisa Morton looks at how listening to others is an important antidote to assuming the loudest story is the only story, and how Karen Gabay's love for leaning in to the less popular stories can inspire you understand the people you work and spend time with.
In any business, understanding where people are coming from helps relationships to grow and Lisa reflects on her Godfather's saying "You have two ears and one mouth - use them in that order".
Uncover a part of Manchester’s history you’ve never heard before.
Host of The People on BBC Radio Manchester, Karen Gabay has built a career on giving a platform to ordinary people and their stories, but she still has time to rub shoulders with Mary J Blige and Idris Elba.
Discover alongside Lisa Morton the power of working for love, not money, and how hiding in the toilets at the Apollo and getting into gigs for free could help you forge a lifelong career.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Karen Gabay: On Twitter Via BBC Radio Manchester
Showing Gratitude with your work and your actions.
Lisa Morton reflects on how Justin Eagleton has used his artwork to show gratitude toward Manchester and it’s people as well as the importance of taking the time to look back and honour the people that have supported you.
“That's my artwork on that screen. That's going to be in living rooms and houses all over the world.”
Justin Eagleton has designed some of the biggest PlayStation games of the early noughties, has had his props blown up on Coronation Street and painted world-famous celebrities including Noel Gallagher and Rio Ferdinand.
Discover, alongside our host Lisa Morton, art’s incredible ability to change lives.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Justin Eagleton: On Twitter On Instagram
"Is this your best piece of work?"
How you show up at work or in life matters. Lisa Morton looks at how Cas Paton's business On Buy has clear ethical values and how, with them, they not only mean business, but to behave like they mean business.
Meet Amazon’s biggest ethical competitor.
Cas Paton launched his first business with just £80 in his pocket. He’s now the founder of OnBuy, the venture capitalist-backed, fastest-growing retail marketplace in the world.
Lisa Morton chats to Cas about his upcoming global expansion plans, his dedication to ethical trading and his purpose-first business model. With £14.3m worth of sales, he’s definitely doing something right. We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Cas Paton: On LinkedIn Via OnBuy
Can you be a leader when you are not in a leadership role? Inspired by Tom Bloxham's episode of We Built This City, Lisa Morton shares some of the secrets to leading a team, and how you become a great team member by using the same skill.
“Some people are Mancunian by pure accident of birth. I chose to become one.” Urban Splash founder Tom Bloxham MBE, was told his ambitious regeneration projects - from Britannia Mills to Timber Wharf - ‘would never work’. Lisa Morton discovers how he went from selling posters and fire extinguishers, to championing Manchester’s creative industry, becoming one of the largest modular housing builders in the UK, and overseeing the creation of Manchester International Festival’s brand new home - jumbo jet-sized culture venue, The Factory. We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122
Via our website
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Connect with Tom Bloxham:
Via Urban Splash’s website
On Twitter
On LinkedIn
“The band forget you’re there, and without that trust... those images would never happen”
For photographer Sharon Latham forming great relationships is vital to getting a great photograph. More than that - her work on relationships have lead her to every one of her great gigs. Lisa Morton discusses why "Loyalty Aways" is essential for how you can grow your business.
Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
“My legacy is my photographs, definitely.” Music and football are two of Manchester’s greatest exports and Sharon Latham is the woman who has captured some of their defining moments through her lens. Lisa Morton finds out how Sharon became the first female club photographer in the Premier League for Manchester City, what it was like to tour across America with Noel Gallagher, and how Bradley Cooper recognised her on the red carpet at the Oscars. Turning her bathrooms into darkrooms and developing photos under her stairs, Sharon decided to turn her lifelong passion into a viable career. She claims she was just in the right place at the right time with the right lens, but you will hear how her determination and graft saw her become Manchester City’s Official Club Photographer. While there, she documented Man City’s meteoric rise, including the team lifting the FA Cup in 2011 for the first time in 35 years. But… Hear why Sharon made that photo quite a memorable one for the team. Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Sharon Latham
On Twitter
On Instagram
Via her website
Download The Selfie Guide On IOS
On Google play
"We know a bullshitter when we see one in this city"
Lisa Morton takes this revelation from Didsbury Gin's Liam Manton and unpicks what it means to "Keep It Real". Whether it's the courage to start again after every success (and failure), or the ability to straight talk with your team, this episode of Know Your Value shines a light on the power of being true to yourself, and keeping your feet firmly on the ground.
From Collyhurst to the pages of Vogue.
Liam Manton, co-founder of Didsbury Gin, turned a drunken light bulb moment into a multimillion pound business with his co-founder and mate, Mark Smallwood. He’s slayed Dragon’s Den, supported millions of people during COVID, and even lobbied against Donald Trump. Discover alongside Lisa Morton the power of the Manchester hustle.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Liam Manton: Via Didsbury Gin’s website On LinkedIn
"...not the name on the back."
Lisa Morton observes from "that" Dianne Bourne that despite the perceived glamour of her work as a showbiz journalist, she's always grafting for her community of readers. Lisa delves into this value revealing how playing for the team, and the team's mission, galvanises success.
Dianne Bourne goes to the party so you don’t have to: “Manchester’s full of great people with stories to tell."
As Showbiz Editor for the Manchester Evening News Diary page for 13 years, Dianne is no stranger to fame. She’s interviewed global superstars including Rihanna, at the Trafford Centre, Lady Gaga, in Whalley Range and Snoop Dogg, in Ordsall. Lisa Morton discovers how this gossip columnist learnt how to gossip in the right way, and created the buzz around Manchester’s celebrity culture.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Dianne Bourne: Via I Love MCR On Twitter
Better yourself. Better your clients. Better your business.
Lisa Morton explores Will Lewis' inspiring revelation that he "fights like a dog to get the best results for his clients". She reveals how every business leader can take the value 'Champions Do Extra' and make it work for their organisation to become winners in their industry.
“I've never been arsed about money. When I get out of bed in the morning, I just want to make sure we do our absolute best."
From selling Mars Bars at school to negotiating multi-million pound property deals, this week Lisa sits down with Will Lewis, Director of OBI.
Will started OBI 10 years ago, in the middle of the debris of the banking crisis. Since then, he’s grown his business to manage nearly half of all property deals in Manchester. In this podcast, find out more about why he’s referred to as a disruptor, and his mission to do things differently.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Will Lewis: Via LinkedIn
Via OBI’s website
Building a team is a continuous challenge for many business leaders. Lisa Morton reflects on Mark Fletcher's observation that the 2020 pandemic exposed those that were on the team, and those that weren't.
Find out how a simple rule like "No D*s" not only helps you surround yourself with people who share your values, but also helps you make sure you’re not being one.
“Creating a world where people are free to love who they want.” Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride, brought Ariana Grande to the Pride stage in 2019, cementing it as an event that attracts global attention. Closer to home, Lisa Morton discovers how his fight for a more inclusive world is helping to break down barriers for Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place. Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Mark Fletcher: On Twitter Via Manchester Pride
How do your values work together to help each other? Lisa Morton explores "Integrity" off the back of Joanne Roney's interview. She discusses how integrity can drive you in your decision making, and a surprise second value comes in to help.
What does it take to make history? Find out from Joanne Roney OBE.
Desperate to earn a wage to buy her first ever new coat, Joanne left school at 16 and got a job at Birmingham Council’s Housing Department. On day one, she had a dead rat thrown at her.
Find out how she overcame the obstacles (and rats), to become Manchester Council’s first ever female Chief Executive.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place. Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Joanne Roney: On Twitter
Discover what it means to live and work by your values. Lisa Morton delves in to her interview with Sir Howard Bernstein and discusses the idea of "Sweeping the Sheds".
What values drive a CEO with integrity like Sir Howard Bernstein? As the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council for nearly 20 years, Sir Howard got the city back on its feet after the IRA bomb in 1996. He then carried on his regeneration mission for almost two decades, galvanising public and private partnerships, changing the skyline and creating new communities in addition to bringing The Commonwealth Games to Manchester.
Lisa Morton finds out how you rebuild a city, the values that drove Sir Howard to grow the community, and the legacy he wants to leave. Sir Howard also has some warm words of advice and support for Greater Manchester as we rebuild out of a pandemic.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place. Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Howard:
Via Deloitte
Lisa Morton tells the story of Greater Manchester, interviewing one legacy maker at a time. Find out what to expect in Season 2.
2020 has been a tough year for Manchester, and the world. We Built This City showcases people from the city region who've shown generosity and grit to pull the Manchester community through adversity. In Season 2 you'll hear stories of growth, determination, love, community and family.
See you on the 26th of November at 9 am for the first episode.
“Plant trees you’ll never see” means that we should all leave a legacy out of respect for those who follow us.
This is one of the most important values of The Roland Dransfield Way – 15 values by which we try to hold ourselves accountable personally and professionally.
Each of our We Built This City guests has shown that their personal journeys have at their heart a determination to leave Greater Manchester in a better place.
To celebrate Roland Dransfield’s 24th anniversary, we wanted to dedicate our 24th episode to the importance of ‘planting trees’ and to share some of the vital legacy work that our guests are doing, not out of self-interest, but for the benefit of Mancunian generations to come.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
Ged King has dedicated his formative years to changing the lives of Manchester’s homeless community, but for the last five months, his altruism and soul searching has taken place in Thailand’s Koh Samui.
Hear about Ged’s hopes of bringing his Skullfades Foundation to Thailand - cutting hair, changing lives, and finding his own spiritual space along the way.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Ged: Via Skullfades On LinkedIn
Star of Coronation Street, Shameless, East Is East and Emmerdale, Christopher Bisson follows one manta – make your own luck, and make the most of it.
Chris started his career by chance as a child model turned actor on Children’s Ward. CEO Lisa Morton finds out how making the most of his chances turned him into one of the nation’s favourite TV fixtures over the last three decades.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Chris:
On Twitter
Thom Hetherington says great taste comes from learning. Find out what you can learn from Manchester’s leading arts and food expert. CEO of Holden Media, Thom spends his life bringing celebrated arts and culture events to Manchester. Lisa Morton finds out what drove him to start the Northern Restaurant and Bar Show, and the Manchester Art Fair. We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Thom: On Twitter On LinkedIn
Journalist Shelina Begum knows how to get a good story. Lisa Morton gets curious with the Manchester Evening News’ Business Editor to find out how she has been the voice for Manchester’s Asian and Business Communities for the last 20 years. We Built This City is a series of incredible conversations with the incredible Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. It’s a celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city. These episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ 20 years ago, Shelina stepped into her career in journalism, starting as a junior reporter at Asian News at just 17 years old. Now, as the Business Editor of the Manchester Evening News, she’s not only watched Manchester rebuild over the last two decades - she’s been at the forefront of the growth, reporting on every move. You won’t always get your story through Shelina’s ironclad ‘what makes a good news story’ radar, but when you do, you know you’re onto something special. Satisfy your curiosity with our brand new We Built This City episode. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Shelina: On Twitter
Sir Richard Leese says there is one fundamental thing that rebuilt Manchester in 1996. Lisa Morton finds out what it is. Manchester City Council Leader Sir Richard Leese was instrumental in rebuilding the city after the IRA bomb in 1996. Hear how he plans to pull the city through COVID, making it stronger and more formidable than ever before. We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Sir Richard Leese was voted into office one month before the IRA bomb, giving him the huge task of rebuilding the city. Using the unwavering relationships that the city had built up over the years before, huge successes were achieved from setting up the lord mayor’s emergency fund to help countless businesses to reopen, to breaking down the north/south divide of the city. Needless to say, Sir Richard has created an exceptional legacy for Manchester. Lisa Morton chats to Sir Richard about the challenges that Manchester faces now in the aftermath of a pandemic, and the ways in which he’ll tackle them head on to reestablish a thriving city that can recruit and retain for a modern economy. And the best advice he has to give? “Understanding that everything is done by teams – you can’t achieve much on your own.” _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Sir Richard: Via the Manchester City Council website On Twitter
Discover what happens when you’re not frightened of failure.
From teaching and radio presenting to being appointed High Sheriff, Eamonn O’Neal has achieved everything he’s ever set out to do. Here, Lisa Morton discovers what happens when you take the risks and the opportunities life throws at you.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Eamonn was appointed by the Queen this year as High Sheriff of Greater Manchester – the first High Sheriff in history to be installed via Zoom! - and his year campaign is to celebrate ‘being you’. A man with a big heart, Eamonn is working with organisations to create cultures that allow those with disabilities to thrive in our society. In his own words: “I want to celebrate and show the strength that’s in differences.” Leaving his job as a deputy head when he was 30, Eamonn was the oldest tea boy in media when he started his career in broadcast at ITV and BBC Radio Manchester, and has even been Managing Editor of the Manchester Evening News. On top of his current work as High Sheriff, Eamonn is Chief Executive of St Ann’s Hospice, working to give people peace in their final stages of life and helping to raise £20m as they go into their 50th year. In this episode, you’ll find out what can happen when you have the courage to follow where life leads. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Eamon:
On LinkedIn
What do Sir Richard Branson, Rita Ora and Usain Bolt have in common? They’re all on a first-name basis with Vikas Shah MBE.
Here, Lisa Morton delves into the life of one of the most successful entrepreneurs and philanthropists in the UK. We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Vikas started his first business aged just 14, creating and selling website designs – never knowing that this would be the start of an exceptional career. Now, Vikas is CEO of Swiscot Group - a diversified international trading business – and teaches at three separate universities, including his role as Visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship at MIT Sloan. Not just settling for that, however, he’s also the Chair of several social enterprises, sits on the board of local and global charities and speaks publicly on issues ranging from mental health to inequality. Understanding his privileged position, he lives by the mantra: “If you can make a difference, you should feel obligated to do so – because it’s just by pure fluke that you’re not in that position.” If you want to learn how to make positive change whatever your position, Vikas is someone you need to know. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Vikas: Via his website Via Twitter
Corin Bell has one clear mission: to end food waste. Lisa Morton finds out how Corin uses her catering business to do just that - and to feed thousands of vulnerable people in Manchester during lockdown.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Corin launched Open Kitchen Manchester six years ago with a determination to intercept food that would be thrown away along the distribution line to feed the city. Her aim: feed bellies, not bins. She’s since struck up incredible partnerships that allow her to make a real impact in the UK’s food waste industry. However once COVID struck, her business - alongside the rest of the hospitality industry - was stopped in its tracks. But her team wasn’t ready to pack it in just yet: “We’ll feed people, won’t we? We’ll just keep cooking.” And that’s what they did, they put their own needs to one side to help those who needed it most. This is what social conscience truly looks like. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Corin: Via her website On Twitter
He built this city. Chris Oglesby is the CEO of Bruntwood with a £1billion investment portfolio across the UK. He tells Lisa Morton of the values, passion and drive it takes to building thriving cities - including his home one: Manchester.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Michael Oglesby, Chris’ father, set up Bruntwood in 1976. His first ever acquisition was a gas meter factory in Farnworth. Never did he think his business would achieve the successes it’s celebrated for today. Four decades on, and Chris and the Bruntwood team are managing £1bn worth of assets across the UK, including Circle Square, Manchester Science Park and Alderley Park, but he’s never forgotten the values that his dad instilled in him from a young age – values of hard work, integrity and respect. Chris’ mission is to create thriving cities, and his ethos has never failed him: “Culture beats strategy every time.” _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Chris: Via their website On LinkedIn
On June 15th 1996 a bomb, planted by the IRA, exploded in Manchester City Centre. Thanks to the efforts of the rescue services, no one died. In this special episode previous We Built This City guests talk about their experiences on the day, and how the people of Manchester were able to build a new, stronger community in the face of adversity.
Voices include: Clint Boon, John Thomson, Diane Modahl, Carl Austin-Behan, Sarah Collins, Liz Taylor, Ged King, Karina Jadhav, Andy Burnham & Chris Brindley MBE
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify
“If you’re going to inspire people, you have to step up.” Hear how Stacey Copeland has been breaking down barriers in the world of sport for years as an FA Cup finalist and Commonwealth boxing champion - her work is only just getting started.
A master of football and boxing, Stacey has since set her sights on a new mission – to challenge gender stereotyping and create a world where gender is never a barrier to human potential.
Now that’s purpose.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ When Stacey first wanted to become a boxer, it was illegal, and when she tried to play football she was told she wasn’t allowed to play with the boys. As a girl, she couldn’t fight in her grandad’s gym, or have a kickabout with the lads at school. Thankfully, Stacey’s not one to let adversity stop her. She is now a celebrated athlete in the UK, having represented her country in both football and boxing, and in 2018 became the first ever British woman to win a boxing Commonwealth title. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Stacey: Via her website On Twitter
Has a song ever changed your life? If so, you have something in common with our next guest.
“If I hadn’t seen such riches, I could live with being poor” – these two short lines gave Rose Marley the ambition she needed to give up her career and start a new business from scratch – a business that was destined to give back.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Manchester’s famous Madchester movement helped Rose secure a job in the music industry for over ten years. When she gave birth to her first child, however, she wondered what type of world she was bringing them into - and that’s when a serendipitous moment with a James song gave her life a whole new meaning.
Leaving the music industry, Rose became a social entrepreneur as the COO of the Sharp Project, and is now the Founder of Sharp Futures – giving young people with uncertain aspirations the opportunity to get into the creative industry. But as a social enterprise, she’ll only work with businesses that do good.
Remember, business for good is good for business.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Rose: Via her website On Twitter On Instagram
Manchester is a city that thinks a table is for dancing on – and our latest guest has only gone and made it compulsory!
Founder of Menagerie and Neighbourhood, Karina Jadhav has been a maker of memories for over a decade in Manchester, and she’s ready for the good times to roll back in.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Starting her career as a journalist, Karina never quite realised her passion for the hospitality sector until she began working with her ex-partner at Neighbourhood. She knew people were hungry for something different, and she was ready to provide the goods. Following a divorce and an emotional farewell to the bar she helped make famous, Karina decided to go on her own food and drink tasting roadshow across the US – a trip that inspired the launch of her own restaurant, Menagerie. And, well, the rest is history. In this episode we discuss the importance of family, of building yourself back up when you’ve been knocked down, and the secrets of running a successful business. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Karina: Via her website On Twitter On Instagram
How does a man who was born in Aintree and educated in Cambridge become Mayor of Manchester? Andy Burnham has always been a man of the people, and when he’s not in the Britain’s Protection with a pint of bitter or at a Slow Reader’s Club gig, you can find him enacting genuine, purposeful change that will transform Manchester and the Northern Powerhouse for the better. We Built This City is a series of incredible conversations with incredible Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Just two weeks into his position as Mayor of Manchester, the city was brought to its knees by the Manchester Arena bomb – a defining moment for Andy’s career, and a moment that showed him the true scale of our city’s heart. Since then, Andy has campaigned tirelessly to make our city a place that we can be truly proud of – from his work to end homelessness through his Bed Every Night campaign, to Build Back Better – a project that supports the improved regrowth of Manchester post-COVID19. Discover the true importance of resilience and heart, and the impact it can have on a community you love. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Andy: On Twitter
How does Mr Gay UK become Manchester’s first openly gay Lord Mayor? From hot pants to regal robes, Carl Austin-Behan’s uniform has changed a lot over the years – but his values have always stayed the same. In his own words: “You can be anything – and if someone sows a seed, let it grow”. We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ To lose his career, his home and his family, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Carl had done something terrible to warrant such pain. The truth of the matter however, is that he was just trying to live his true, authentic life.
Carl’s story is one of bravery. From the heroic act of throwing himself into a burning plane to save his team member, to the more personal, daily acts of bravery that come with being a gay man (and yes, that does include wearing a pair of hot pants to walk up Deansgate!)
In this podcast we discover proof that, no matter what you’re going through, things always get better.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Carl: Via his website On Twitter On Instagram
From one of Manchester United’s most celebrated players, to one of the City’s most prolific leaders, Gary Neville continues at the same relentless pace he did as a footballer.
And what’s helped him sustain it? A key lesson he took from his days at United: “You go for it - you think you’re right and you don’t stop ... even if sometimes you get a little slap around the face”. We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into Modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and community found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our much-loved corner of the world in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Gary Neville was trained under the watchful eye of the great Sir Alex Ferguson, and along with a sterling career as a footballer, he learned how to be a strong leader and a fair boss.
From winning titles and smashing up planes (it wasn’t him), to building a new cityscape with his property company, Gary’s relentless energy has permeated through our City for years.
Learn about the values that have helped shape his professional career – both on and off the pitch – and why his love of Manchester will never fade.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Gary: Via Relentless Group On Twitter
Expect life advice, business acumen and funny stories from Manchester’s first ever Event Planner, Liz Taylor of the Taylor Lynn Corporation. Being a big fish in a small tank was the criteria when Liz Taylor founded her Manchester based event management company. But that didn’t stop her from building a hugely respected international event company. Liz Taylor has the best black book in Manchester and was the first party and events planner in the City. She’s worked with most of the North West’s corporates, venues and a just a few famous faces (Taylor Swift, Gary Barlow, Bon Jovi and Prince William?) We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. A celebration of the human grit, determination and love found throughout the city, these episodes will lift you up, make you laugh and inspire you to leave our wonderful city in a better place.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Liz: Via her website
On Twitter
It’s time to meet the man with Britain’s best CV.
Chris Brindley was titled Britain’s Best Boss in 2017, was awarded an MBE by Prince Charles in 2018 for services to sport, and is now Chair of the Rugby League World Cup 2021 – and we haven’t even scratched the surface.
Hear the inspirational story about how this former newspaper boy became one of our country’s greatest leaders.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. We recorded these episodes before the Corona Virus outbreak, which has for the time-being, not only taken the swagger out of Manchester, but brought us to our knees. Not for long. We had always planned to launch in March and wondered if that was still the right thing to do now. On reflection, we decided to go ahead, because the love and the family and the community that comes out of these conversations, will hopefully provide some strength and conviction that we did build this city - and we will do it again.
_ _ _ _ _ Growing up as a newspaper boy in the 1960s, Chris Brindley developed an unfaltering love of sport. Although his dream of going pro didn’t work out, he realised he had a hidden talent in leading a team.
A talent that would become his most coveted asset.
Chris’ leadership abilities have put him at the helm of some of the most successful businesses in the UK - taking on Director roles at NatWest, British Gas and MetroBank – but back at the Bowling Green pub in Chorlton, he’s just one of the lads.
A story of determination, personal growth and a gratitude for life. If you didn’t want to become a leader before, you will now.
_ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Chris: On LinkedIn On Twitter
“I can and I will, watch me” – not a bad role model rallying cry, right?
Sarah Collins spends her life empowering others. If it’s not through training her junior netball team, it’s by generating purposeful change in her new role at TalkSPORT, or picking her ‘PMA crew’ up when they’re down. She’s a constant reminder that sometimes all you need is a good friend. We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. We recorded these episodes before the Corona Virus outbreak, which has for the time-being, not only taken the swagger out of Manchester, but brought us to our knees. Not for long. We had always planned to launch in March and wondered if that was still the right thing to do now. On reflection, we decided to go ahead, because the love and the family and the community that comes out of these conversations, will hopefully provide some strength and conviction that we did build this city - and we will do it again.
_ _ _ _ _ Former Head of Sport for BBC Radio Manchester, Sarah Collins has spent her career encouraging young women to build their careers, promoting women in sport, and trying very hard to get out of bed before 9am.
Hear Sarah’s impassioned protests in favour of more grassroots sporting opportunities for women, her hilarious tales about the doomed radio car that didn’t survive the Salford riots, and why she’ll never forget that fateful Manchester City match on September 23rd 1989… If laughter is the best medicine, you’re all about to feel pretty wonderful. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Sarah: Via TalkSPORT On Twitter
On Instagram
Meet the man that’s responsible for your last epic night out.
Not only has Sacha Lord brought the party to Manchester for years, he’s also brought along some global superstars - including Tyler the Creator, Lorde and Frank Ocean. And in this episode he reveals the line up to the Hacienda House Party for this weekend's unitedwestream.co.uk.
If you want some behind the scenes exclusives about Parklife festival, or want to find out why the Warehouse Project almost never happened, this one’s for you.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. We recorded these episodes before the Corona Virus outbreak, which has for the time-being, not only taken the swagger out of Manchester, but brought us to our knees. Not for long. We had always planned to launch in March and wondered if that was still the right thing to do now. On reflection, we decided to go ahead, because the love and the family and the community that comes out of these conversations, will hopefully provide some strength and conviction that we did build this city - and we will do it again.
_ _ _ _ _ It’s fair to say that Sacha’s educational career never really took off, and after leaving sixth form with two Us and an E, he knew there was only one place he wanted to be – wherever the music was. Sacha has been instrumental in keeping the sound of Manchester alive, and has worked tirelessly alongside our Mayor and City Council to protect and grow our city’s musical institutions. In fact, Sacha’s been such a success that his photograph now hangs on the walls of the school that kicked him out! An astounding story of passion, determination and a little bit of luck, Sacha shows us that you don’t need to have life planned out to truly make a difference. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world.
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. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Sacha: Via Twitter Via Instagram
What’s life without music? Clint Boon has been keeping the spirit of Mancunian music alive for years, and the self proclaimed “creative hurricane” is showing no signs of slowing down. See Clint Boon's We Built This City Playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0YW3lVDOWrE0QZlV6XjEtF?si=Fc0V4R3WS7exqvNdEkGZkg
We Built This City is a series of incredible conversations with the incredible Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into Modern Manchester. We recorded this episode before the Corona Virus outbreak, which has for the time-being, not only taken the swagger out of Manchester, but brought us to our knees. Not for long. We had always planned to launch in March and wondered if that was still the right thing to do now. On reflection, we decided to go ahead, because the love and the family and the community that comes out of these conversations, will hopefully provide some strength and conviction that we did build this city - and we will do it again. _ _ _ _ _ Clint’s life-long dream was to be in a band, playing music for his fans – ever since he first saw Elvis Presley on the TV. And whilst he achieved his goal, he knew that it couldn’t last forever. When the Inspiral Carpets went their separate ways, Clint needed to find a new way to bring that ‘buzz’ back into his life. Lisa hears how Clint’s love of entertaining manifested in many ways throughout his life – as a DJ in Manchester’s South nightclub, a radio presenter on XS Manchester, and a public speaker, inspiring our City’s future great musicians. A story of celebration and reinvention, Clint helps us to remember the importance of familial love and most importantly, staying unique. _ _ _ _ _ Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture. To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
On Spotify Connect with Clint and his Boon Army: On Twitter On Facebook
John Thomson is someone that Mancunians have claimed as their own. Born in Salford, bred in Preston and made in Manchester. Once named Mancunian Of The Year, John is one of our screen treasures - best known as Pete Gifford in Cold Feet. Lisa Morton talks to him about how he built his life, career and family, in and around Greater Manchester.
As one of Manchester’s Comedy Hall Of Fame, you will have seen John in The Dead Good Show, Coronation Street and The Fast Show. What you might not know is that he is a philanthropist, voice over artist, magician and game show obsessive.
Hear about his old haunts, his relationships, and the places he loves most throughout the city. Find out what really makes him laugh and why it’s “nice to be nice”. He’ll also reveal his in-depth knowledge of Manchester’s ‘escape rooms’.
Your host Lisa Morton set up PR company, Roland Dransfield, one month after the fateful IRA Bomb that tore apart the city’s centre. Since then as a company they have helped to rebuild the city from its infrastructure to the arts. To celebrate more the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering great Mancunian icons - born, bred or adopted - and through each episode, she will be exploring how they have created business, careers, relationships, communities and the stories they have to tell from along the way.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 0161 2361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
Connect with John Thomson: On Instagram
On Twitter
From a working-class Manchester home to Olympic running tracks, Diane Modahl MBE tells Lisa Morton her incredible story. Hear how she was able to chase her dream, how she won a battle she never thought she’d ever have to fight and the young people she helps now.
This episode was recorded in early 2020 before Corona Virus spread across the world. It is as relevant now as it was when we recorded it. Diane talks about Manchester and the relationships here that helped her through her highs and her lows. Now her Foundation helps Manchester’s young people to thrive in the same way. This podcast series will be delving into purposeful relationships that built the greatest city on earth, Manchester.
In this episode of We Built This City Lisa hears how Diane was given the opportunity to flourish as a young runner, since falling in love with the track Diane’s career has taken her many unexpected places. Growing up in Longsight, attending high school in Moss Side, Diane says she was truly made in Manchester. Coming from a working-class household, Diane thanks her family network for allowing her to succeed as an athlete - her parents showed her true hard work ethic and she was able to use this mindset on the track. The pair discuss her many achievements including setting up The Diane Modahl Sports Foundation which is striving to provide children growing up in social deprivation, the same opportunity that she had growing up allowing young talent and potential to be nurtured around the city. And Lisa hears about the false doping claim that pulled Diane’s professional running career from under feet and the battle that followed for herself and her husband to clear her name. Diane’s success at this time has changed the way samples are taken.
Your host Lisa Morton set up PR company, Roland Dransfield, one month after the fateful IRA Bomb that tore apart the city’s centre. Since then as a company they have helped to rebuild the city from its infrastructure to the arts. To celebrate more the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering great Mancunian icons - born, bred or adopted - and through each episode, she will be exploring how they have created business, careers, relationships, communities and the stories they have to tell from along the way.
Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via Phone: 0161 2361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
Connect with Diane: On Twitter
Via her Website
Prepare to be inspired. Ged King is the city’s barber who is changing lives. Hear how a haircut can help get people off the streets of Manchester.
Two-time TEDx speaker Ged tells Lisa Morton about his personal journey to self-belief and fulfillment, and how he is now doing the same for those that need it the most – all through cutting hair.
We Built This City is a series of conversations with some of the amazing Mancunians - born, bred or adopted – who put the heart into modern Manchester. We recorded these episodes before the Corona Virus outbreak, which has for the time-being, not only taken the swagger out of Manchester, but brought us to our knees. Not for long. We had always planned to launch in March and wondered if that was still the right thing to do now. On reflection, we decided to go ahead, because the love and the family and the community that comes out of these conversations, will hopefully provide some strength and conviction that we did build this city - and we will do it again.
Ged had experienced his own struggles, but after finally having achieved the dream of having his own barber business, he couldn’t understand why he still felt empty. Deep soul-searching led him to understand that what was going to make him feel complete was to help others – to give, not to take – and it was then that he and his team started to work on the streets of Manchester, helping to support people who had found themselves homeless.
Lisa hears how Ged and his team can change the physiology of a person by cutting their hair, by lifting them up, by washing away the dirt and by empowering each individual through conversation. Through this, he has created a ‘tribe’ of people around him to inspire him every day and to drive The Skullfades Foundation forward.
Skullfades’ work in Manchester - which has been very much supported by GM Mayor, Andy Burnham - is helping to create real sustainable social change. This includes the recent launch of the world’s first community barber shop, in Stretford, where young people, who have been homeless, are being trained in barbering skills.
Ged and Lisa discuss his plans to grow the Foundation to help end homelessness not just in Manchester, but around the world.
Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.
To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best city in the world. Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:
Via Phone: 01612361122 Via their website On Instagram
On Twitter
Connect with Ged and his Skullfades tribe:
On Facebook
On Twitter On Instagram
Via the website