Season 2 Ep.5 – Lord Ed Vaizey | Former UK Minister for Culture, Communications, and Creative Industries

Season 2 Ep.5 – Lord Ed Vaizey | Former UK Minister for Culture, Communications, and Creative Industries

"They demolish their heritage at pace and they regret it at leisure."   That's the warning at the heart of this episode of the Cityscape Global Podcast, where Lord Ed Vaizey, Former UK Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, makes the case for why technology alone will never be enough to build a great city. From London's 32 fragmented boroughs to the rise and fall of AI start-ups, Lord Vaizey explores why public bodies move more slowly than business, why you can never put new technology "back in the box", and the one AI risk that genuinely worries him.   He also makes a compelling case for culture as essential urban infrastructure, not a luxury added as an afterthought, pointing to hospitals, restaurants, and heritage districts as proof. Plus, the real story behind King's Cross, Battersea Power Station, and Canary Wharf, and why politicians changing roles is one of the biggest threats to long-term urban vision.

Season 2 Ep.4 – Michael Hancock | Former Mayor of Denver

What does it take to transform a city’s downtown into a globally fluent hub for capital, skills, and long-term competitiveness?   Michael B. Hancock, Former Mayor of Denver, reflects on the decisions that shaped its trajectory during a pivotal period. Confronted with a $100 million budget gap and the challenges of economic recovery, he championed a vision that strengthened its appeal to investors, businesses, and talent.   In this conversation, Michael explores the leadership choices, infrastructure investments, and long-term thinking that helped drive growth. He also shares insights into how cities can restore confidence, build on their distinctive strengths, and balance immediate demands with a future-focused agenda.

Season 2 Ep.3 - Ludo Campbell Reid | Former Executive GM of the Suburban Rail Loop Authority

The biggest comeback of all is not in sport, not in business, and not in politics.   According to Ludo Campbell-Reid, Former Executive GM of the Suburban Rail Loop Authority, it is the comeback of cities.   Ludo, who led the largest infrastructure project in Victoria, Australia, unpacks what urban transformation actually requires, from diagnosing the root causes of city failure to why cities with world class plans still struggle to deliver, and the role of mega events as accelerators of change.

Season 2 Ep.2 - Silvia Roldán | Former CEO of Metro de Madrid & Former Deputy Minister for Digitalisation of the Community of Madrid

What does it take to run a metro system that never sleeps?   Silvia Roldán, Former CEO of Metro de Madrid and Former Deputy Minister for Digitalisation of the Community of Madrid, joins the Cityscape Global Podcast to share what urban mobility really looks like from the inside.   From leading through a global pandemic and a historic snowstorm to managing the daily pressure of moving millions, this is a conversation about what it really takes to keep a city moving.

Season 2 Ep.1 - Ricardo Rio | Former Mayor of Braga, Awarded World Mayor for Sustainability 2022

What does it really take to turn a mid-sized city into a global benchmark for livability, sustainability, and growth? In this episode of the Cityscape Global Podcast, Olivia Kinghorst, Former CNN Anchor and Former Senior Editor at Forbes, sits down with Ricardo Rio, Former Mayor of Braga and recipient of the World Mayor for Sustainability Award 2022, to explore how a city of 200,000 people became one of Europe's most compelling urban success stories. From kickstarting economic transformation during a national financial crisis to building a governance model that engaged every layer of society, Ricardo Rio shares the decisions, strategies and principles that drove Braga forward across his 12 years of leadership.