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The Work Futures Research Centre Podcast

The Work Futures Research Centre Podcast

Written by: Ben Thomas
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The Work Futures Research Centre is an interdisciplinary research and enterprise hub tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing the world of paid and unpaid work. This podcast, run by WFRC fellows, brings academics and experts from the world of work into dialogue to explore a different topic each episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Thomas Careers Economics Personal Success Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • The Value of Migrant Enterprise in the UK

    The Value of Migrant Enterprise in the UK
    Mar 30 2026
    In this podcast Carolynn Low, a WFRC fellow, speaks with Professor Monder Ram from Aston University about his extensive research on ethnic minority and migrant businesses in the UK. He highlights the significant contributions that these businesses make to the UK economy and the local communities they serve. Professor Ram also stresses the importance of research that is relevant to policy and practice, and of collaborating beyond academia to help address the barriers these businesses face in achieving growth and sustainability.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    28 mins
  • Meaningful Work

    Meaningful Work
    Sep 4 2025

    WFRC PhD candidate Fabien (HR professional turned academic) is in conversation with Professor Michael Tomlinson (Southampton Education School) as they tackle questions related to the concept of Meaningful Work:

    • What even is meaningful work—and how do individuals and society benefit?
    • What happens when work feels hollow or disconnected?
    • And crucially, how can we bring meaning back into the workplace?

    From exploring the philosophical foundations to the modern ideas of “bullshit jobs,” and "quiet quitting,", this thoughtful episode blends research, real-world insight, and hopeful musings for the future.

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    46 mins
  • Artificial Intelligence and Creative Work

    Artificial Intelligence and Creative Work
    Jul 10 2025

    In this podcast Dan Ashton (Professor of Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of Southampton and one of Work Futures Research Centre Co-Directors) and Dr Karen Patel (Associate Professor in Media in the College of English and Media and Co-Lead of the Centre for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Arts (CEDIA) at Birmingham City University) explore the relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and creative work. Set within the quickly changing landscape of AI and the creative industries where there are ongoing debates around intellectual property, the nature of creativity and the impact on work practices, this podcast explores their research on construction of a humanoid robot artist identity.


    References:


    Will a robot take your job?


    The Future of Employment


    AI and the reformulation of cultural labour


    Creative Industries and GenAI: Policy recommendations to support an industry in transition


    Assemblages of creativity: Material practices in the creative economy


    Creative Work and Artificial Intelligence: Imaginaries, Assemblages and Portfolios


    The Politics of Expertise in Cultural Labour: Arts, Work, Inequalities


    ‘People don’t buy art, they buy artists’: Robot artists – work, identity, and expertise


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    21 mins
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