In the first episode of our “Work in Progress” series, hosted by Dr Sanjay Popat, Sanjay speaks with NHS doctor, BAFTA award winner, and best-selling author Dr Ranj. Together, they candidly discuss Dr Ranj’s experience of burnout, as well as why the NHS has become such a high-risk environment for burnout, and what urgently needs to change.

This episode was recorded on 27 January 2026. A transcript of the episode is available. If you would like to get in touch regarding the episode or podcast, email research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk. Visit the podcast webpage for further information.

About the speakers:

Dr Ranj is a physician, broadcaster, and bestselling author recognised as one of the UK’s leading TV health experts. A co-host of BBC One’s Morning Live and co-creator of the BAFTA-winning Get Well Soon, he is a familiar face across Britain’s flagship television programmes.

Dr Sanjay Popat is a Chartered Organisational Psychologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow specialising in occupational stress, well-being and mental health. His work focuses on how these phenomena occur over time and how time might influence whether we adapt to stressors or reach a breaking point.

In this episode of "Gerrin' on wi' it," host Dr Andy Mycock speaks with Professor Joe Cook from the University of Hull about what makes collaboration work in research and community engagement.

Joe leads the Communities in their Places cross-cutting theme for the Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP), working with local authorities, voluntary organisations, and residents across Yorkshire and the Humber. She discusses Hull's "flipped university" model that prioritises community needs, the art of listening over ivory tower thinking, and building trust by not overpromising.

Drawing on projects from Local Area Coordination to cost of living crisis research, Joe illustrates how participatory action research bridges gaps between stakeholders with competing pressures - and why the most powerful research reflects lived experiences and delivers tangible outcomes for real people, not just academic publications.

This episode was recorded on 16 December 2025. If you would like to get in touch, please contact contact@y-pern.org.uk. A transcript of this episode is available.

Acronyms explained:

1. Y-PERN – Yorkshire and Humber Policy and Engagement Network
2. UPEN – Universities Policy Engagement Network
3. UKRI – UK Research and Innovation
4. ESRC – Economic and Social Research Council
5. YPIP – Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership

Helpful links:

1. https://www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/lacnetwork/local-area-coordination/what-is-local-area-coordination/

About the speakers:

Dr Andy Mycock is a political scientist with extensive experience of academic public policy engagement. As Chief Policy Fellow for the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (www.y-pern.org.uk) he collaborates with a wide range of academic, government and non-government stakeholders across the region and UK and internationally. Andy is also Cross-Programme Lead for

In this episode of "Gerrin’ On Wi’ It", Dr Andy Mycock talks with Dr Peter O’Brien, Executive Director of Yorkshire Universities, about how collaboration is shaping the future of Yorkshire and the Humber.

Peter reflects on the unique partnership between the region’s 12 universities, their work with local and combined authorities, and the remarkable journey since signing the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding, which laid the groundwork for major initiatives like the Yorkshire and Humber Policy and Engagement Network (Y-PERN) and the Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP). Peter identifies that the diverse landscape of Yorkshire is bound together by a strong sense of identity which creates a basis for shared purpose and shared agendas.

Together, they discuss what effective collaboration looks like, why trust and communication matter, and how shared regional identity helps Yorkshire speak with one voice.

Peter also looks ahead to the challenges and opportunities for the sector, including sustaining this work, strengthening connections with communities and policymakers, and ensuring universities continue to play a meaningful civic role in the region.

This episode was recorded on 16 December 2025. If you would like to get in touch, please contact contact@y-pern.org.uk. A transcript of this episode is available.

Acronyms explained:

1. Y-PERN – Yorkshire and Humber Policy and Engagement Network
2. UPEN – Universities Policy Engagement Network
3. YU – Yorkshire Universities
4. YPIP – Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership
5. YHC – Yorkshire and Humber Councils
6. MOU – Memorandum of Understanding

Helpful links:

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-the-united-kingdom
2. https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/
3. https://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/our-universities
4. https://www.unialliance.ac.uk/