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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 Mort ...
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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 gett…
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"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, a…
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"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 o…
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“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 perf…
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"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 ignit…
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"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 …
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‘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 mak…
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"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-…
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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 Man…
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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 resili…
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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 ri…
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“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. …
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“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…
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“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 reflect…
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“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 cre…
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“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 …
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“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 bo…
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“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 forw…
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“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 M…
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“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 provid…
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“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…
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“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 j…
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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.…
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"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 holdi…
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“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 respond…
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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.由Roland Dransfield
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“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 conversa…
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“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…
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“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 navig…
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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,…
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“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 s…
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“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 …
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“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 …
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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…
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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 n…
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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.…
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"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 …
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“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 Are…
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“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. H…
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“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 hi…
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“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 passio…
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“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, w…
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“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 …
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“We’re enabling a city region of tinkerers” Dr Marilyn Comrie 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 Marilyn believes in following the “golden thread” of life. She’s followed a flow of life which has tak…
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“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 48…
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"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 Dids…
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“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 Arch…
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Manc 61: Dr Kirsty Fairclough - The Queen of Pop Culture with a Purple Reign Over Manchester
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“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 mar…
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“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 be…
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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 al…
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