In this episode, Dr Lauren Siegel and Dr Rami Shamseen are joined by Dr Laura William, an Associate Professor of Employment Relations and Equality. They discuss the employment challenges faced by disabled individuals, exploring why disabled people are more likely to be made redundant and how they struggle to re-enter the labor market. Dr William shares her personal and research experiences, highlighting the substantial employment gaps and legal barriers, including the 'medical model' of disability and the lack of legal representation in employment tribunals. The discussion also touches upon Dr William’s book, 'Claiming Disability Discrimination: Assessing Barriers to Justice,' and her groundbreaking database that maps out patterns in employment tribunal judgments. The episode concludes with insights into Dr William’s future research on intersectional discrimination.

00:51 Dr Laura William's Journey into Socio-Legal Studies

02:12 Evolution of Disability Law

02:56 Employment Gaps and Discrimination

04:14 Barriers to Justice for Disabled People

10:49 Challenges in Proving Disability

18:12 Mental vs. Physical Disabilities in Employment

20:44 Importance of Disclosing Disabilities

25:23 Creating a Disability Discrimination Database

26:14 Future Research Directions

Read Laura's new book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-74387-0

In this episode Dr Lauren Siegel and Dr Rami Shamseen are joined by Dr Maria Gebbels, Associate Professor in hospitality management at the University of Greenwich. The discussion centers around The Clink Charity, which operates fine dining restaurants inside working prisons where inmates are trained as chefs and front-of-house staff. The conversation covers The Clink's innovative approach, its significant social impact, the benefits it offers to both prisoners and the public, and Dr Gebbels' research on the transformative effects of this program. The episode also touches on the broader implications for rehabilitation and employment prospects for ex-prisoners.

00:18 Meet Dr Maria Gebbels

01:14 Understanding Critical Hospitality

02:26 The Clink Charity: Fine Dining in Prisons

04:17 How The Clink Charity Operates

08:40 Impact on Prisoners and Public Perception

18:29 Research Findings and Future Directions

In this episode, host Dr Lauren Siegel and guest host Dr Ryan Yung are joined by Dr Hyunjoo Lim to discuss the vital role of social media presence for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). Hyunjoo explores her recent research on ad repetition and social media interactions, highlighting how consistent exposure and peer engagement can enhance website traffic and sales. The discussion underscores the importance of SMEs maintaining an active social media presence and provides practical insights into starting and optimising social media marketing efforts. Real-life anecdotes and successful examples further illustrate the potential of social media in driving business growth.

00:37 Discussion on Social Media Marketing

01:05 Research on Ad Repetition and Effectiveness

05:41 Practical Implications of the Study

05:46 Power of Peer Influence in Social Media

08:08 Organic Content and Viral Success Stories

11:33 Target Audience and Platform Relevance

13:00 Getting Started with Social Media Advertising

18:17 Hiring Content Creators and Social Listening

In this episode, hosts Dr Lauren Siegel and Dr Ryan Yung are joined by Dr Shahper Richter, a senior lecturer in marketing at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. They discuss the integration of AI tools in education, focusing on the use of chatbots named Jack and John. These digital tutors assist students with their learning by providing personalized support and answering queries in real-time. Dr Richter shares insights on how different student demographics interact with these AI tools and emphasises the importance of teaching students to use AI ethically and critically. The conversation also covers the impact of AI on educational practices and the role of educators in this evolving landscape. The episode offers valuable perspectives on navigating AI's challenges and opportunities in higher education.

01:29 Exploring Digital Avatars in Education

04:30 Chatbots and Personalised Learning

06:36 Challenges and Ethical Considerations

10:23 Integrating AI in Assessments

18:24 The Role of Educators in the AI Era

21:22 Critical Thinking and AI

24:56 Prompt Engineering and Best Practices

In this episode, hosts Dr. Lauren Siegel and Dr. Rami Shamsi welcome Dr. Octavio Murekian to discuss his fascinating research on inconspicuous or low-key consumption. Dr. Murekian explains the concept's origins and its evolution from conspicuous consumption, particularly in the context of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Driven by security concerns, upper middle-class Argentines adopt subtle luxury to avoid being targeted by criminals while still signaling their status. The discussion extends to how rising crime rates globally, including in London, might influence consumer behavior towards more inconspicuous consumption. Dr. Murekian also hints at future research directions, including exploring the psychological impacts of security products marketed as calm-inducing.

00:23 Welcome to the Podcast

00:35 Introducing Dr. Octavio Murekian

00:57 Understanding Inconspicuous Consumption

01:14 Historical Context and Evolution

03:36 Motivation Behind the Research

03:50 Fieldwork Insights from Argentina

04:56 Security Concerns and Consumption

07:57 Personal Experiences and Observations

09:13 Global Perspectives on Security and Consumption

11:00 Broader Implications and Market Response

20:39 Future Research Directions

21:43 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements

In this episode, Dr. Lauren Siegel and Dr. Rami Shamseen invite Dr. Shreyashi Chakraborty to discuss her research on gender inequality in the Indian software industry. Dr. Chakraborty shares personal experiences and systemic issues leading to gender bias, including societal patriarchy, lack of anti-discrimination laws, and underrepresentation of women in senior management. The discussion also highlights shocking recent events, such as the tragic case of a female doctor in Calcutta, and the challenges faced by women in both formal and informal sectors. Dr. Chakraborty further explains her ongoing research initiatives targeting investor reactions to female representation in top management and the conditions of women in India's informal economy.

If you are interested in Dr. Chakraborty's work, please check her recent publications:

• Rationales of gender diversity management policies and practices in India: An exploratory empirical study in the Indian IT/ITeS Industry⁠https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/edi-04-2019-0124/full/html⁠
• How do markets react to women leader: An IPO Investigation⁠https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/13473#page=416⁠
• Safe and suitable yet unequal for women: understanding the inequalities in the hiring process in the Indian Software industry⁠https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/research-handbook-on-inequalities-and-work-9781800886599.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqEwmMKYMFS5DrDMDr7aM73OlwnwjamQjJkxJiX-HRxMAMS2WbJ⁠

00:38 Welcome to the Podcast

01:14 Guest Introduction and Research Background

03:28 Current Gender Inequality in Indian Software Industry

07:25 Shocking Incident in Calcutta

10:35 Challenges in Speaking Up

14:20 Recruitment and Selection Inequalities

20:13 Field Work Insights

21:44 Importance of Equal Representation

25:22 Diversity Management in India vs. Developed Economies

27:34 Ongoing Research and Future Directions

35:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the 'In the Meantime' podcast, hosts Dr. Lauren Siegel and Dr. Rami Shamseen discuss with Dr. Wenjie Cai the concept of digital free travel. Dr. Cai explains the difference between digital detox and digital free travel, emphasising a balanced relationship with technology. The conversation covers Dr. Cai's research on digital-free travel, its impact on travellers, and the collaboration with the 'unplugged cabin' initiative. They also delve into the emotional journey and withdrawal symptoms participants experience, the societal implications, and future steps to promote digital wellbeing in hospitality and tourism. Dr. Cai emphasises the importance of preparing for a digital detox to ensure a positive experience and highlights ongoing research projects and potential developments in creating digital free destinations.

If you are interested in Dr.Cai's research, please find his publications below:

Cai, W., & McKenna, B. (2021). Power and Resistance: Digital-Free Tourism in a Connected World. Journal of Travel Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875211061208

Cai, W., McKenna, B., & Waizenegger, L. (2020). Turning it off: Emotions in digital-free travel. Journal of Travel Research, 59(5), 909-927.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287519868314

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Floros, C., Cai, W., McKenna, B., & Ajeeb, D. (2019) Imagine being off-the-grid: Millennials' Perceptions of Digital-Free Travel, Journal of Sustainable Tourism.

https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2019.1675676

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McKenna, B., Waizenegger, L., & Cai, W. (2020). The influence of personal and professional commitments on digitally disconnected experiences. In IFIP International Conference on Human Choice and Computers (pp. 305-314). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62803-1_24

00:11 Meet Dr. Wenjie Cai

00:50 Understanding Digital Free Travel

02:09 The Unplugged Cabin Experience

06:26 Emotional Responses to Digital Detox

08:38 Practical Tips for Digital Detox

17:58 Exploring the Dark Side of Digital Detox

27:44 Future Research and Collaborations

28:34 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode, our hosts Dr. Lauren Siegel and Dr. Rami Shamseen engage in a compelling discussion with Dr. Ryan Yung, a senior lecturer in digital innovation and transformation. The conversation covers various aspects of the metaverse, its distinction from virtual worlds, and its emerging real estate market. Dr. Yung unpacked his research on virtual reality (VR) and its applications, particularly in tourism and event management. The episode highlights the potential and challenges of VR, including accessibility and financial barriers, and explores the role of VR in enhancing experiences for families, individuals with disabilities, and even PTSD therapy for war veterans. The discussion also touches on the environmental impact of virtual meetings and the future of VR in potentially replacing physical travel and events.

00:45 Welcome to the In the Meantime Podcast

01:26 Meet the Hosts and Guest

03:28 Dr. Ryan Yung's Journey into VR Research

05:51 Applications of VR in Tourism

10:19 The Rise and Impact of the Metaverse

16:37 Challenges and Downsides of VR and the Metaverse

33:26 Future of Virtual Events and Meetings

41:48 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements