In this special episode of Planning After Dark, Jackie, Alex and Catriona are joined by Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz for a wide-ranging, moving and very PAD Pod conversation about leadership, legacy and local government.

Rokhsana reflects on her eight years as Mayor, from stepping into Newham’s executive mayoral model and challenging old political cultures, to putting people at the heart of inclusive growth, Olympic legacy, community wealth building and the regeneration of places like Alice Billings House. There’s serious talk on housing, homelessness, renters’ rights, trust in politics, London’s looming local elections and why lived experience matters in public policy.

There’s also plenty of classic PAD chaos: fashion watch, If Mayors Ruled the World, Star Wars, House of Cards, ABBA, Sade, Michael Jackson scrapbooks and one very strong motherly mantra: “You don’t need permission to be a leader, just be one.”

Candid, hopeful and full of heart, it’s a conversation about cracking codes, rebuilding trust and what happens when women lead from the front.

Get in touch! Message us at ask@planningafterdark.co.uk

Planning After Dark is the bold and insightful podcast where three powerhouse women in planning and development - Alex Notay, Catriona Riddell, and Jackie Sadek - shine a light on the industry’s biggest challenges, trends, and, yes, even a bit of behind-the-scenes gossip.

From navigating the complexities of development to debating the future of our cities, Planning After Dark is the no-holds-barred discussion you won’t want to miss.

Powered by Cratus Group, new episodes drop monthly on all major streaming platforms.

Planning After Dark turns one!

And in this anniversary special the PAD Pod marks the occasion with a lively and wide-ranging conversation on the biggest planning stories of the moment. Jackie, Catriona and Alex reflect on a whirlwind first year of the podcast before diving into MIPIM, inward investment and the UK’s patchy international presence, asking what the sector still isn’t getting right about global promotion and delivery. From there, they unpack devolution, spatial development strategies, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the government’s latest new towns announcement - including why seven shortlisted locations may be politically significant, but won’t come close to solving the housing crisis on their own.

The episode also explores rightsizing and older people’s housing, with fresh insight from a House of Lords roundtable on how better housing choices later in life could unlock family homes and improve quality of life.

And in a more serious final section, the team discuss the worsening treatment of public sector planners, the pressures of committee culture, and the urgent need to support and retain officers across local government. With reflections on the past year and a look ahead to UKREiiF and the next guest, this is a fittingly full-on start to year two.

Get in touch! Message us at ask@planningafterdark.co.uk

Planning After Dark is the bold and insightful podcast where three powerhouse women in planning and development - Alex Notay, Catriona Riddell, and Jackie Sadek - shine a light on the industry’s biggest challenges, trends, and, yes, even a bit of behind-the-scenes gossip.

From navigating the complexities of development to debating the future of our cities, Planning After Dark is the no-holds-barred discussion you won’t want to miss.

Powered by Cratus Group, new episodes drop monthly on all major streaming platforms.

In this special International Women’s Day episode of Planning After Dark, Catrina Riddell, Jackie Sadek and Alex Notay are joined by Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England.

Helen shares the story behind her journey into politics – from writing letters to MPs as a teenager to leading one of the UK’s most economically dynamic regions. The conversation explores the realities of political leadership, balancing family life with public service, and what the mayoral model can achieve for places like Bristol, Bath and the wider West of England.

The discussion covers:

• The evolving role of metro mayors in England
• Devolution and the opportunities for the West of England
• Transport, growth and unlocking development
• Women in politics and leadership
• Why storytelling matters in civic leadership

Along the way there’s also talk of karaoke, social media, and the realities of navigating the planning and development world.

A lively, thoughtful and occasionally chaotic conversation about place, politics and the people shaping the future of our cities.

Get in touch! Message us at ask@planningafterdark.co.uk

Planning After Dark is the bold and insightful podcast where three powerhouse women in planning and development - Alex Notay, Catriona Riddell, and Jackie Sadek - shine a light on the industry’s biggest challenges, trends, and, yes, even a bit of behind-the-scenes gossip.

From navigating the complexities of development to debating the future of our cities, Planning After Dark is the no-holds-barred discussion you won’t want to miss.

Powered by Cratus Group, new episodes drop monthly on all major streaming platforms.