Speaking of Research: The SCDTP Podcast

How can migrant women use digital platforms to share information, build community, and speak back to the system on their own terms?And what happens when a doctoral researcher adapts her methodology after listening to community feedback, shifting from traditional qualitative methods to exploring lived experiences shared online?In the second episode of "In Dialogue with Stakeholders", a special series of Speaking of Research presented by Catherine McDonald, we bring researchers together with the people and organisations who can help shape their research and show how it can have impact in the real world.Joining Catherine is SCDTP doctoral researcher Patricia Ncube, whose research explores how migrant women use YouTube and digital platforms to share knowledge and challenge systemic barriers, and Bev Price, a migrant woman herself, community advocate, and Patricia’s mother.Together, Patricia and Bev explore how migrant women are taking narrative ownership of their stories away from mainstream media and political discourse. They discuss the shift in research methods from traditional interviews and diaries to digital spaces where women feel safe to share their everyday, lived experiences - from navigating immigration status tied to employment to seeking a quiet, ordinary life.Their conversation also highlights why stakeholder and community accountability matters. Bev offers insights on moving beyond simply celebrating resilience to questioning the systemic barriers that force migrant women to navigate difficult journeys in the first place."In Dialogue with Stakeholders" captures these conversations to show how researchers and stakeholders can work together from the outset, bringing different expertise and perspectives to research and helping shape its potential for impact beyond academia.You can read a transcript of the conversation here. Find out more about the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership at southcoastdtp.ac.ukThis is a Research Podcasts production. Credits:Presenter and Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsGuests: Patricia Ncube, University of Portsmouth; Bev Price, ReverendVideo and Audio Editor: Alex Canner, Research PodcastsTranscripts: Lauren White, Research Podcasts

What does it take to make swimming in the sea, a lake or a river genuinely accessible to people with visual impairments?  And what happens when a researcher brings a stakeholder into the research from the very beginning?  In the first episode of “In Dialogue with Stakeholders”, a special series of Speaking of Research presented by Catherine McDonald, we bring researchers together with the people and organisations who can help shape their research and show how it can have impact in the real world.  Joining Catherine is SCDTP doctoral researcher Sadie Rockliffe from the University of Brighton, who is researching how people with visual impairments experience blue spaces, and blind double Paralympic champion swimmer and open water pioneer, Melanie Barratt, who is also the first blind woman to swim the English Channel. Together, Sadie and Melanie have co-created Gateway to the Sea, working with partners including British Blind Sport, SwimTrek, Sea Lanes and Red Equipment. The event combined research, lived experience and practical expertise to help people with visual impairments build confidence and independence in the water.  Their conversation offers a glimpse of what can happen when stakeholders are involved early in the research process, challenging assumptions, bringing different expertise to the table and helping shape research that has the potential to make a difference beyond academia.  “In Dialogue with Stakeholders” captures these conversations to show researchers what meaningful collaboration can look like, and how working with stakeholders from the outset can help research have real-world impact.  You can read a transcript of the conversation here.  Find out more about the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership at southcoastdtp.ac.uk  This is a Research Podcasts production.   Credits: Presenter and Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts Guests: Sadie Rockliffe, University of Brighton; Melanie Barratt, Blind double Paralympic champion swimmer Video and Audio Editor: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts Transcripts: Lauren White, Research Podcasts 

In the tenth episode of Series 2 of Speaking of Research, a podcast from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, we meet Michelize van Heerden, a doctoral researcher from the University of Chichester. Michelize’s research explores the Women’s Sports Leadership Academy (WSLA) - a pioneering residential programme that has supported over 450 women from 78 countries in developing as leaders in sport.Against a backdrop of ongoing gender imbalance - with only 26% of CEO roles in sport held by women, and a global 3% decrease in female representation on funded sports boards - Michelize examines how WSLA creates a safe, empowering space for growth and connection. Her research draws on the personal stories of participants to disrupt traditional evaluation models, placing lived experience at the centre. Through this work, she aims to understand WSLA's long-term impact on women’s leadership development and the broader transformation of sporting culture.You can read a transcript of the conversation here.Find out more about the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership at southcoastdtp.ac.ukThis is a Research Podcasts production.Credits:Presenter: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsGuest: Michelize van Heerden, University of ChichesterProducer: Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research PodcastsEditor: Anton Jarvis, Research PodcastsTranscripts: Lauren White, Research Podcasts

In the ninth episode of Series 2 of Speaking of Research, a podcast from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, we meet Daniel Griffiths, a doctoral researcher from the University of Southampton. Daniel’s research explores gender euphoria and gender congruence in trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse adults - focusing on the joyful, affirming experiences that accompany living authentically.Through qualitative studies, Daniel has found that gender euphoria is a distinct and powerful positive emotion, often felt most intensely during the early stages of transition. Over time, it tends to evolve from moments of “explosive joy” into a more settled sense of contentment and alignment. His work aims to shift the narrative around trans lives, moving beyond deficit-focused perspectives to highlight diversity, fulfilment, and wellbeing - and to inform interventions that better support gender congruence and positive mental health.You can read a transcript of the conversation here.Find out more about the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership at southcoastdtp.ac.ukThis is a Research Podcasts production.Credits:Presenter: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsGuest: Daniel Griffiths, University of SouthamptonProducer: Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research PodcastsEditor: Anton Jarvis, Research PodcastsTranscripts: Lauren White, Research Podcasts

In the eighth episode of Series 2 of Speaking of Research, a podcast from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, we meet Ramon Almeida, a doctoral researcher at the University of Southampton. A former lawyer in Brazil, Ramon investigates violence against LGBTQ+ people in the years following the 2019 criminalisation of homophobia and transphobia.Despite this legal milestone, Brazil remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for LGBTQ+ individuals - with 291 violent deaths recorded in 2024 alone. Through qualitative research in Salvador involving 33 participants, including victims and legal professionals, Ramon uncovers deep inequalities in access to justice and persistent institutional prejudice. His work underscores the need for intersectional approaches and highlights how NGOs often provide more effective support than state systems. By amplifying these voices, Ramon aims to inform international policy and strengthen protections against hate crimes targeting marginalised LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.You can read a transcript of the conversation here.Find out more about the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership at southcoastdtp.ac.ukThis is a Research Podcasts production.Credits:Presenter: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsGuest: Ramon Almeida, University of SouthamptonProducer: Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research PodcastsEditor: Anton Jarvis, Research PodcastsTranscripts: Lauren White, Research Podcasts

In the seventh episode of Series 2 of Speaking of Research, a podcast from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, we meet Miranda Willis, a doctoral researcher from the University of Southampton. Miranda’s research explores the intricate relationships between people, animals, and landscapes in the New Forest National Park, focusing on the centuries-old practice of Commoning - where local residents graze livestock on shared land.Against the backdrop of modern pressures such as tourism and development, Miranda examines how Commoning contributes to landscape management and biodiversity, while sustaining a deep cultural connection to place. Drawing inspiration from indigenous approaches to land stewardship, her work calls for a shift from ownership to shared care and responsibility. Using a blend of ethnography, visual methods, and mapping, Miranda aims to inform policy and promote coexistence, ensuring that traditions like Commoning continue to support sustainable futures.You can read a transcript of the conversation here.Find out more about the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership at southcoastdtp.ac.ukThis is a Research Podcasts production.Credits:Presenter: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsGuest: Miranda Willis, University of SouthamptonProducer: Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research PodcastsEditor: Anton Jarvis, Research PodcastsTranscripts: Lauren White, Research Podcasts

In the sixth episode of Series 2 of Speaking of Research, a podcast from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, we meet Cheryl Williams, a doctoral researcher from the University of Portsmouth. Cheryl’s research explores the use of virtual reality (VR) as an innovative intervention for pain management, investigating how immersive experiences can reduce pain and anxiety in clinical settings.Often used as a distraction technique during surgery and other hospital procedures, VR offers a promising way to improve patient comfort and wellbeing. With 25% of the global population experiencing chronic pain daily, Cheryl’s work highlights the urgent need for alternative therapeutic approaches and aims to expand VR’s role within NHS services. In the next phase of her research, she plans to test these mechanisms to further understand how VR can transform pain management.You can read a transcript of the conversation here.Find out more about the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership at southcoastdtp.ac.ukThis is a Research Podcasts production.Credits:Presenter: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsGuest: Cheryl Williams, University of PortsmouthProducer: Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research PodcastsEditor: Anton Jarvis, Research PodcastsTranscripts: Lauren White, Research Podcasts

In the fifth episode of Series 2 of Speaking of Research, a podcast from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, we meet Nikki Smith, a doctoral researcher from the University of Brighton. Nikki’s PhD explores the experiences of autistic young people in mainstream secondary schools across England, with the goal of informing school and government policies to create more inclusive educational environments.Drawing on her experience as a teacher, Nikki takes a participatory approach, working alongside autistic individuals to shape her research. Five autistic participants helped refine her research question and methods, leading to the creation of an innovative “star profile” tool for data collection. Through her work, Nikki highlights the importance of listening to autistic voices and tailoring support to help every student thrive - an approach inspired by her own classroom experience, where six autistic students excelled with the right support in place.You can read a transcript of the conversation here.Find out more about the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership at southcoastdtp.ac.ukThis is a Research Podcasts production.Credits:Presenter: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsGuest: Nikki Smith, University of BrightonProducer: Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research PodcastsEditor: Anton Jarvis, Research PodcastsTranscripts: Lauren White, Research Podcasts