Grow Places
Welcome to the Grow Places podcast where we explore the virtuous circle of people growth and place.
Brought to you by Grow Places and hosted by our Founder, Tom Larsson. These short conversations with industry leaders and community figures share insights on the built environment and open up about their purpose and what drives them on a personal level.
Thank you for listening. For more information please visit our website; www.growplaces.com and connect with us @WeGrowPlaces across all social channels.
We cover topics such as real estate, property development, place, urban design, architecture, social value, sustainability, community, technology, diversity, philanthropy, landscape design, public realm, cities, urban development, people, neighbourhoods, anthropology, sociology, geography, culture, circular economy, whole life carbon, affordability, business models, innovation, impact, futurism, mindset, leadership, mentorship, wellbeing.
See you next time!
Episodes
61 episodes
GP 61: Finding the Gold Dust in a Place: with Stephanie Edwards of Urban Symbiotics
In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson is joined by Stephanie Edwards, Architect, Urban Designer and Co-Founder of Urban Symbiotics, to explore what it truly means to put people at the forefront of meaningful change in the buil...
GP 60: Copenhagen's Socio-Economic Street Where Everyone Belongs: with Christian Søndergaard of Saxogade
In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson travels to Copenhagen to meet Christian Søndergaard, Head of Saxogade, what may be the world's only socio-economic street. For over 40 years, the nine-shop operation run by an NGO has comb...
GP 59: I Just Love Places: with Hilary Satchwell of Tibbalds
In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson is joined by Hilary Satchwell, Director at Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design, to explore what it really means to put people at the heart of placemaking. Hilary reflects on nearly three de...
GP 58: Passionate Delivery of Regeneration: with Gerry Hughes of Gerry Hughes Consulting
In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson is joined by Gerry Hughes, Managing Director of Gerry Hughes Consulting, to explore leadership, delivery and the realities of urban regeneration. Gerry reflects on stepping away from the c...
GP 57: Investing to Make Life Better in Cities: with Jesse Shapins of Urban Partners
In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson is joined by Jesse Shapins, Head of Urban Regeneration at Urban Partners, to explore what it really takes to deliver neighbourhood scale change in European cities. Jesse shar...
GP 56: Get Ahead With AI and How To Double Down: with John Williams of Scail UK
In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson is joined by John Williams of Scail UK to explore what it really means to get ahead with AI — and where the built environment should be doubling down as technology accelerates. John shares...
GP 55: Heritage Led Growth of Cities: with Ailish Killilea of The Townscape Consultancy
In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, host Tom Larsson is joined by Ailish Killilea of The Townscape Consultancy, for a compelling exploration of heritage, townscape, and their roles in shaping places people want to live, work, and visit....
GP 54: Upskilling Local Government: with Pooja Agrawal of Public Practice
In this powerful episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson speaks with Pooja Agrawal, co-founder and CEO of Public Practice, a pioneering not-for-profit that places built environment professionals into local government roles to drive mean...
GP 53: Architecture for Real Life: Over 35 Years of Stories with Paul Monaghan of AHMM
How do you actually deliver a school, an office, or a housing block and turn it into something extraordinary?In this episode, Tom Larsson speaks with Paul Monaghan, co-founder of AHMM, about a career spent designing buildings that shape ...
GP 52: UK Politics, Housing, Growth: with Kevin McKeever of Lowick Group
In this episode, Tom Larsson is joined by Kevin McKeever, Managing Director of Lowick Group, a leading strategic communications and public affairs consultancy working at the intersection of development, politics, and community. Kevin also recen...
GP 51: Place Personality: with Denz Ibrahim of Legal & General IM
In this insightful episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson sits down with one of the most forward-thinking voices in the UK real estate sector – Denz Ibrahim of Legal & General. As Head of Futuring & Place, Denz s...
GP 50: How to Turn Big Ideas into Better Places: Architecture and Impact with Kai-Uwe Bergmann of BIG
In this milestone 50th episode of the Grow Places Podcast, host Tom Larsson sits down with renowned architect Kai-Uwe Bergmann, Partner at BIG, to explore the interplay between design, place-making, and global urban transformation...
GP 49: How to unlock Co-Living: Redefining Urban Living with James Armitage-Hobbs of DP9
In this episode of the Grow Places podcast, Tom Larsson sits down with James Armitage-Hobbs, Director at DP9, to ask a big question: What role does co-living play in the future of our cities?They explore:
GP 48: Can Architects Stay Relevant? AI and More with Keir Regan Alexander of Arka Works
In this episode of the Grow Places podcast, Tom Larsson sits down with Keir Regan Alexander of Arka Works to ask a big question: Can architects stay relevant in the age of AI?They explore:Why architects need t...
GP 47: The Barbican: The Future of Culture and Place with Pip Simpson
In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson sits down with Pip Simpson, Director of Buildings and Renewal, at the Barbican. They explore the evolving role of cultural institutions in shaping cities, fostering creativity, and buildin...
GP 46: Why Tribes Matter: Human Centric Real Estate Events with Rob Marten of SPACE+
In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, we sit down with Rob Marten, co-founder of SPACE+, to explore why tribes — small, intentional communities — are at the heart of human-centric real estate events.Rob refle...
GP 45: We Have To Change the Real Estate Industry and The World: with Kristian Kiis of Volcano
In this energising episode of the Grow Places podcast, Tom Larsson speaks with Kristian Riis—former rock musician and founder of creative placemaking agency Volcano —about the urgent need to rethink how we shape our cities, communities, and liv...
GP 44: Unlocking Major Regeneration: with Sophie Rosier of Savills
In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, host Tom Larsson sits down with Sophie Rosier, Head of London Mixed Use, Development, at Savills to explore the evolving landscape of city-making. From her early days at Television Centre to leading c...
GP 43: Regeneration Needs Trust: Partnerships with Kat Hanna of Avison Young
In this new episode of the Grow Places Podcast, we explore one of the most critical but often overlooked elements of successful regeneration: trust.Kat Hanna, Co-Managing Director (London) at Avison Young, joins us to talk about h...
GP 42: What Really Affects Quality of Life? with Adam Hinds of LifeProven
What if we told you that the biggest driver of quality of life in a building isn’t space, location, or sleek design – but how connected people feel to each other?In this thought-provoking episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom ...
GP 41: Construction in Crisis? Exploring Challenges and Solutions: with Rachel Coleman of Turner & Townsend alinea
Rachel Coleman, Head of Research at Turner & Townsend Alinea, takes us on a fascinating journey through the interconnected worlds of construction economics, data analytics, and place-making in this thought-provoking conversation.With...
GP 40: PropTech’s Origin Story and What Next: with Faisal Butt of Pi Labs
In this episode, Tom Larsson speaks with Faisal Butt, founder of Pi Labs, about the evolution of PropTech and real estate venture capital. Faisal reflects on his journey from a tech-driven background to pioneering investments in property techno...
GP 39: What’s The Problem You Are Trying to Solve? with James Pellatt of Digital Trees
In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, host Tom Larsson speaks with James Pellatt, founder of Digital Trees and former Director of Innovation at GPE, about the deep structural inefficiencies in real estate—and how data and technology can b...
GP 38: Pleasure in The Simple Things: with Emily Wright of CREtech
In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, host Tom Larsson sits down with journalist and CREtech's Head of Content, Emily Wright, to explore the evolving narratives around real estate, design, and the human experience of ...
GP 37: Where Two Things Meet Something Else Happens: with Tom & James Teatum of Noiascape
Welcome to the Grow Places Podcast, where we explore the virtuous circle of people, growth, and place. Hosted by our founder, Tom Larsson, this episode takes a deep dive into architecture, development, and urban living with Tom...