Listening Beyond the Loudest Voices: The Listening Post Project B‑Sides
Listening now officially has a soundtrack! Thanks to our guests who have thoughtfully selected a track (or two) as their entry point for discussions on the podcast or launch event. The songs have been wonderful metaphors for the messy, powerful and sometimes inconvenient business of listening well.
Episode 1 – “It Ain’t What You Say” with Anna Ifanti of 10 Design and Women In Architecture and David Ayre of Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt
Our first B‑Side picked up an idea introduced at our 2025 launch event, when Miranda MacLaren of Orms noted that Girls Just Want To Have Fun was originally sung by a man. Same lyrics, completely different meaning, a perfect parallel for what happens in workplaces when two people say the same thing but the message lands differently depending on who delivers it.
In this episode, Anna Ifanti and David Ayre explored that reality. Anna talked about the “invisible bruises” people carry, those subtle, often hidden knocks from bias that affect how, when and whether we use our voices. David continued the Radiohead love with his song choice and talked about building cultures which empower people and increase their confidence.
Episode 2 –Open Doors with Isobel Brodrick of DBR Projects and Dhruv Gulabchande of Narrative Practice and HFM Architects
This theme of what happens after someone speaks up carried into the second B‑Side. At our summer event, Legend Morgan of Freehaus reminded us that listening means very little if less‑heard voices aren’t able to influence or take ownership as a result.
So, in episode two, guests Isobel Brodrick and Dhruv Gulabchande explored what agency sounds like. Through a cast of unlikely musical and cultural references: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the Kardashians, and even Mrs Thomas, Dhruv’s Year 4 English teacher, we mapped out the role of allies and mentors. Agency isn’t created by grand gestures but by steady accompaniment: small permissions, encouragement, and the people who help you walk through open doors and contribute once across the threshold.
Episode 3 – Listening as a Creative Act with Hanna Afolabi of Mood and Space and Black Women in Real Estate and Anna Rowell of Planning Aid for London
From agency we moved to disruption. In our third B‑Side, with guests Hanna Afolabi and Anna Rowell, the music choices were once again so well chosen.
Hanna’s choice of Fela Kuti’s Zombie challenged the rigid “that’s how we’ve always done it” organisational rhythms that keep the same voices centred. Anna highlighted the lyric ‘I deserve to be here’ within her choice of Self Esteem’s Focus is Power when talking about belonging. This episode reminded us that the aim of real listening shouldn’t really be to maintain the status quo. It is creative, sometimes inconvenient, and often uncomfortable and that’s the point! If we want different outcomes, we need different inputs, not just loud familiar ones.
Episode 4 – Listening not listening with Karo Bryant of shedkm and Tom Dobson of Public Works
By the final episode, we had arrived somewhere gentler but no less important. This arose from a point made by Blossom Young of Poplar HARCA who organised a consultation event involving knitting which provided a necessary distraction and got people talking. Emma noticed a jigsaw puzzle in an architects’ studio recently which as thoughtfully achieved the same aim.
With guests Karo Bryant and Tom Dobson, we explored how much comes out of these more relaxed conversations: in skateparks, over cups of tea, while putting puzzle pieces together, or when discussing a favourite piece of music. These low‑pressure moments can sometimes reveal more than the more formal meeting room. This episode reminded us that speaking and listening are shaped by environment as much as intention.
For more:
Find the podcast by searching ‘The Listening Post Project wherever you listen to your podcasts. Watch this space for the latest on events which are work in progress!