Shows
Northern Quarter TalksFind Your Way Back to Yourself | Aimie SkillenWhat happens when your life looks good from the outside… but something inside still feels wrong?Aimie Skillen built a brand around helping other people feel good.Then she reached a point where she didn’t.Aimie is the founder of Feel Good Club, the Manchester-born community and lifestyle brand built around a beautifully simple mission: make one person feel good.What began with Instagram posts and T-shirts grew into events, podcasts, books, billboards, brand activations and a much-loved Manchester coffee shop.But behind the community, Aimie was going thro...
2026-10-2928 min
Northern Quarter TalksFood Makes Us Human Again | Daniel BuiWhat if one of the simplest answers to loneliness was already sitting in our kitchens?A table. A meal. And an invitation.Daniel Bui is a chef, food creator and storyteller known online as Dumpedlingss. But underneath the recipes, food science and beautifully produced videos is something much more important to him.People.In this episode of TEDx and Talks, Daniel joins Andy Coley and Simran Whitham to explore why food has an extraordinary ability to bring us together.Daniel grew up around his family's Vietnamese restaurant before following...
2026-10-2043 min
Northern Quarter TalksLeave People Better Than You Found Them | Jessica Southworth - Hotel FootballWhat if one of the best measures of success was simply this:Did you leave people better than you found them?That idea runs through the way Jessica Southworth approaches work, relationships, community and the city she calls home.Jess is a hospitality leader with more than two decades in the industry and is Cluster Sales and Marketing Director across Hotel Football and Stock Exchange Hotel Manchester.In this special episode of TEDx and Talks, Jess joins Simran Whitham for a conversation about Manchester, community, collaboration and why creating...
2026-10-1338 min
Northern Quarter TalksSnoring: A Sign of a (Not So) Silent Killer? | Thomas A Gionis MD JD MPHSnoring is easy to laugh about.But what if it is trying to tell you something?Thomas Gionis is a physician, surgeon, public health specialist and lawyer whose career has spanned cardiovascular surgery, emergency medicine, healthcare leadership, public health and telemedicine.His interest in sleep apnoea, however, became intensely personal.In this episode of TEDx and Talks, Thomas joins Andy Coley for a conversation recorded in Manchester shortly before stepping onto the TEDxNorthernQuarter stage.Thomas describes the frightening experience that eventually led to his own diagnosis.Despite...
2026-10-0630 min
Northern Quarter TalksI Lost My Own Voice | Jess Robinson"I lost my own voice."Jess Robinson has built a career using hundreds of other people's voices.A multi-award-winning impressionist, singer, comedian, broadcaster, actor, author and voice artist, Jess is known for BBC Radio 4's Dead Ringers, Spitting Image, live comedy and cabaret, voiceover work and a career that has taken her from television and radio studios to the Edinburgh Fringe and major corporate stages.But behind all those voices was a period when Jess realised she had stopped using her own.In this episode of TEDxNorthernQuarter: TEDx and...
2026-09-2941 min
Northern Quarter TalksThe Cost of Being Seen | Jsky"Ego craves attention. Human nature is to be understood."Jsky is a singer, songwriter, broadcaster and creative whose career has moved across music, fashion, television and Manchester's cultural scene.But after spending around 15 years being visible, both online and in the real world, he has started questioning what visibility is actually worth.In this episode of TEDx and Talks, recorded ahead of TEDxNorthernQuarter 2026, Jsky joins Simran Whitham for a candid conversation about social media, success, identity and the hidden cost of being seen.Jsky explains why his TEDx talk focuses on...
2026-09-2244 min
Northern Quarter TalksYou Don't Have to Be Unbreakable | Asia Sharif"You do not have to be unbreakable to survive your life."Asia Sharif is a multi-award-winning software engineer, mentor, public speaker and DE&I advocate whose journey has taken her from foster care and a non-traditional route into technology to becoming an influential voice for diversity, resilience and representation.In this episode of TEDx and Talks, Asia joins hosts Andy Coley and Simran Whitham ahead of taking to the TEDxNorthernQuarter stage in Manchester.Asia shares how she originally studied law before dropping out of university, moving to London and eventually deciding during lockdown...
2026-09-0841 min
Northern Quarter TalksHospitality Saved My Life | Matty White"Hospitality saved my life."Matty White has spent more than two decades building a career across radio, television, live events, food, drink and broadcasting, becoming one of the most familiar faces in Manchester along the way.But the journey to becoming a presenter, broadcaster, DJ and now host of TEDxNorthernQuarter started somewhere very different.In this episode of TEDx and Talks, Matty joins hosts Andy Coley and Simran Whitham ahead of taking on hosting duties at TEDxNorthernQuarter 2026 in Manchester.The conversation starts, naturally, with Manchester. Matty shares what he...
2026-09-0144 min
Northern Quarter TalksI Lost Myself for 10 Years | Scott Thomas on Identity, Purpose & ReinventionFor ten years, Scott Thomas says he lost himself.Known to millions from Love Island, Scott has since built a career as an entrepreneur, podcaster and motivational speaker, but behind the public profile was a period in which he says he became disconnected from the person he really was.In this episode of TEDx and Talks, Scott joins hosts Andy Coley and Simran Whitham ahead of taking to the TEDxNorthernQuarter stage in Manchester.Scott speaks openly about his years in nightlife, drinking, drugs and chasing a version of success that looked right from...
2026-08-2633 min
Northern Quarter TalksWelcome to TEDxNorthernQuarter: TEDx and TalksWhat happens when the conversation continues beyond the TEDx stage??In the first episode of TEDxNorthernQuarter: TEDx and Talks, co-organisers Andy Coley and Simran Whitham introduce the vision behind the new podcast series and explore why Manchester is the perfect place to bring it to life.Recorded at THE CLUB MCR, Andy and Simran discuss Manchester’s distinctive personality, its creative communities and its history of producing innovators, entrepreneurs, artists, academics and people with ideas capable of changing the world.They also explore why TEDx should be about more th...
2026-08-2215 min
Event MattersHow To Build A Community, Not Just A Business with Simran WhithamIn this episode of Event Matters, David Watt is joined by Simran Whitham, founder of FORMAT Group - now one of the world’s largest games industry nightlife festivals and a thriving creative events movement.Simran shares his remarkable journey from hosting a one-off games event as a 19-year-old student in Manchester to leading award-winning festivals, TEDx conferences, and global brand experiences. At the heart of his story is a deep belief that events are powerful community conduits - spaces where people connect, collaborate, and find belonging.Expect an inspiring and honest conversation that explores:...
2025-11-1159 min
Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds27. Gaming Raves, TEDx License Hustle, Council Estate to CEO - Simran WhithamIn this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we meet Simran Whitham—founder of Format Group, gaming event trailblazer, and proud council estate kid turned creative entrepreneur.
Simran’s story takes us from Barlow Road in Tameside to packing out warehouse raves with Sony, Ubisoft, and EA—and becoming the first person in the UK games industry to secure a TEDx license.
From being rejected by colleges to building his own events empire, Simran opens up about discovering the truth behind the games industry, launching grassroots events from nothing, and why he refuses to stop inn...
2025-05-2630 min
BruCast#70 - Simran WhithamSimran Whitham is the award-winning CEO of FORMAT Group where connects game studios and tech brands with buyers through events and marketing. He has led Europe’s largest gaming events, supporting 300+ studios and 100+ tech brands.https://format.gg⚡️ BUY BRUCAST MERCH ⚡️ ⚡️ https://bru-cast.com/store ⚡️💬 CHAT WITH US ON DISCORD 💬 💬 https://discord.gg/XnCDf8g3gn 💬 📸 BE A BRUCAST MODEL (and get free stuff!)📸 Send a photo of you/family/friends watching BC,📸 wearing BC gear, using BC merchandise: 📸 ...
2025-03-111h 05
The Gaming Playbook w/ Harry Phokou#13 - Simran Whitham: “The Events Playbook” - Building a Profitable Events Business, Effective Networking, Resilience, Strategy & moreToday's guest is Simran Whitham, founder and CEO of FORMAT, the award-winning events production and creative agency.With over 8 years of experience in marketing and production across the events, video games, and digital creative industries, Simran has co-founded and worked as Head of Marketing at Tri-Heart Interactive, Head of Player Engagement at Milky Tea, Lead Social Media Manager at The Lowry Theatre, and marketing executive at VR/AR studio XR Games. Along the way, he gained invaluable experience that inspired him to create FORMAT, a leading games industry community nightlife event.In this episode, Simran...
2024-09-101h 08
Rapid Reviews RadioEpisode 181 - Pressing Priority: A Chat with Simran About FormatOn this episode of the podcast, co-hosts Kiley Wilde and Pete Beckett are joined by special guest Simran Whitham, the co-founder of Format.
You may be asking yourself, what is Format? Well Simran is here to answer those questions and a few more we have about the UKs “only gaming social event”
We discuss the origins of Format, how it has managed to grow since its inception, the plans for their upcoming event and so much more.
We hope you enjoy the show.
Thank you to Simran for joining the show. You...
2023-10-161h 17
Unofficial Controller PodcastFormat - The worlds greatest gaming nightlife event - An interview with CEO and founder Simran WhithamSend us Fan MailThis week George and RGT are lucky enough to be joined by gaming industry legend Simon Whitham - A gentleman with a great portfolio through out every facet of the gaming industry. He joins the boys to discuss his genre defining and unique Format experience .Format the worlds leading gaming nightlife experience - Simran talks his career in the industry his BAFTA award while still a student , working with massive gaming partners such as Ubisoft and Sony and of course his super successful event Format.Its a great journey...
2023-10-012h 02
Good Luck Have FunGLHF Podcast | EPISODE 12 - WE INTERVIEWED THE CEO OF FORMAT.GGBen, Dan & James invited Simran Whitham onto the podcast to chat about the most recent FORMAT.GG event in Manchester, got to know him on a more personal level and he spilt some tea on what's happening with FORMAT in the coming months (and years to come)... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 0:00 - Intro/Catch Up 18:50 - Interview with Simran 01:15:10 - Announcements/Ending --------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to everybody who has supported and joined the stream, everyone who has joined the discord and are following our socials: https://twitter.com/GLHFPodcastUK https://discord.gg/dpTtWBw8hZ Dan's socials (Obscene_UK): https://www.twitch.tv/obscene...
2023-06-121h 19
The Cross Players PodcastCrossCast | Ep112: Redfall Reviews and Format Gaming Events with Simran WhithamThis week, the lads are joined by Simran, CEO of Format, the ultimate gaming social event! They chat about Redfall, Xbox in general, and cover off some of the best May The Fourth Be With You deals!
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecrossplayers/message
2023-05-081h 47
Story x StoryStory x Story #121: Behind The Story With Simran Whitham (Video Games)This week, Nigel and Tazziii welcome the founder of FORMAT, Simran Whitham, to unpack the story that is his journey into the world of video game events. Described as "the ultimate gaming social", FORMAT is a nightlife event for gamers and non-gamers alike, and we discover how Simran found a passion for events and outreach that led him to create a platform for game studios, developers and fans to come together and have fun!
Simran talks about how family support shaped his outlook, and the lessons he has learned along the way from some of the biggest...
2022-11-0452 min
The Kasanova PodcastOtters and an Empire in SPACE? Interview with Simran Whitham of Tri-Heart InteractiveCurious about how Tri Heart Interactive was formed? Want to know how the smash hit game The Otterman Empire came to be? Find out all that and more in this interview with the Director of Tri Heart Interactive: Simran Whitham as we delve into how the game came to be, releasing a game during the current global pandemic, the process of developing a game for multiple platforms, and more all on Hawaii's #1 podcast, The Kasanova Podcast!
Triheart Interactive:
Website: https://www.theottermanempiregame.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TriHeartInt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/triheartinteractive/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel...
2020-08-201h 01
indie(Radio);indie(Radio); #88 - (Tri-Heart Interactive) Simran WhithamTri-Heart Interactive's Simran Whitham joins Bret to talk about how a group of university students conceptualized The Otterman Empire at a Crazy Pedro's in Manchester, their journey becoming full-time game developers, running a tight-knit community, and, of course, memes.
2020-08-1550 min
NintenDomainInterview with Simran Whitham on The Otterman Empire plus Crosscode, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2, and new 3D Mario Rerelease rumors.This week on NintenDomain, we have an interview with Simran Whitham on The Otterman Empire and we talk about Crosscode, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2, and rumors about the new 3D Mario Rereleases! Check out The Otterman Empire game and documentary at: https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/the-otterman-empire-switch/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUyUEtaUv8c Support the show and get access to bonus shows at: www.patreon.com/nintendomainpodcast Music: 00:19 Donkey Kong Country: K. Rool's Cacophony 38:22 The Otterman...
2020-07-172h 47