Podcasts
10 Feb 2026
PS IHEART You Unplugged: Building Careers, Connections and Confidence in Local Government
In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, is joined by Julie Towers, Director at Penna. Julie shares insights from her career in local government recruitment, exploring networking, employer brand, senior leadership readiness, reorganisation, and why values, place and diversity matter in today’s councils.
03 Feb 2026
PS IHEART You: Rethinking Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in HR
n this episode of Public Sector I Heart You, Manny Sandhu speaks with Shakil Butt, HR Director, author, and lecturer, about embedding equity, diversity and inclusion across organisations. They explore why performative EDI fails, the importance of representation in leadership, and how co-design and psychological safety drive real change. Shakil shares practical insights on overcoming fear, moving beyond legislation, and leading with intent.
06 Jan 2026
PS IHEART You: The Lost Art of Strategic Workforce Planning
In this episode, Matthew and Michelle discuss why strategic workforce planning is essential for local authorities. They explore the impact of AI, shadow AI risks, and the gap between digital-native workers and experienced staff. They also examine how hybrid working is reshaping culture, and why long-term thinking is key to a future-ready workforce. Strategic workforce planning, they argue, is the “instruction manual” aligning all parts of the organisational windmill. Tune in to discover how HR, leaders and services can turn planning into a movement, not just a moment.
09 Dec 2025
PS IHeart You Unplugged: Leading Locally: Emma Bennett on Place, Purpose and Progress
In this episode, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, is joined by Emma Bennett, Chief Executive at Walsall Council. Together they explore Emma’s journey from frontline social work to chief executive, and what it means to lead in the place you call home. The conversation covers workforce engagement, political dynamics, resident-led transformation, and the challenges and opportunities facing local government today. Emma also shares her reflections on gender in leadership, the importance of work-life balance, and how to build trust and culture across complex systems.
01 Dec 2025
PS IHEART You Unplugged: Creating Culture That Works
In this episode of the WME Podcast, Matthew speaks with Sue Chilton, Chief People Officer at Coventry City Council, and Elizabeth Lisle, Director at ELA Development Consultancy, about how workplace culture is shaped by behaviour and values. They explore Coventry’s ODP programme and how it’s driving long-term change through performance, inclusion, and leadership.
05 Nov 2025
PS IHEART You Unplugged: Reframing AI: Human-Centred Innovation in Councils
In this episode of the WME Podcast, Michelle O’Neill (Principal Consultant, Leadership and OD at West Midlands Employers) is joined by AI specialist Heather Murray for a human-first conversation on AI in local government. They explore how AI can support—not replace—public service professionals, and why removing fear is key to real adoption. With practical insights around safe experimentation, collaboration between HR and IT, and the need to put purpose before tools, this episode reframes AI as a people issue as much as a technical one. Perfect for leaders navigating the digital future with empathy and intention.
07 Oct 2025
PS IHEART You Unplugged: Data, Devolution and the Future of Local Government: Insights with Mo Baines & Dr Jason Lowther
In this episode of the WME Podcast, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, is joined by Dr Jason Lowther, Director at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Local Government Studies, and Mo Baines, Chief Executive of APSE. Together they explore how councils can make better use of data and analytics, the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence in local government, and the role of devolution in shaping the future of communities. They also discuss why a national workforce strategy is urgently needed to address skills gaps and strengthen local government for the years ahead.
03 Sep 2025
PS IHEART You Unplugged: The power of small habits: Building resilience and wellbeing
In this episode of PS IHEART You Unplugged, Matthew from West Midlands Employers speaks with Kat Thorne, The Morning Game Changer, about how small daily habits can create lasting impact. Kat shares her journey from burnout to resilience, highlighting the role of accountability, mindset, and positive routines. Listeners will gain practical strategies to improve wellbeing, energy, and performance, while learning how organisations can foster sustainable change.
05 Aug 2025
PS I HEART You Unplugged: People before profit: Rethinking agency provision in Local Government
In this episode of PS I HEART You Unplugged, Rebecca Davis (Chief Executive, West Midlands Employers) is joined by Brad Sinclair (Managing Director, Opus People Solutions) to explore how councils can transform agency provision into a strategic asset. They unpack the challenges and opportunities of temporary recruitment, share insights from the WMTemps framework, and show how investing in people can deliver better value, stronger communities, and a future-fit public sector workforce.